Ganeshotsav is here, and so are the modaks! My lovely neighbour treated me to some steaming, fragrant modaks straight from the kitchen of a delightful Maharashtrian eatery in Shivaji Park, Mumbai. This is Ukadiche Modak, Lord Ganesh’s favourite sweet. Mine too.
Traditionally made at home with rice flour, grated coconut, jaggery, cardamom, and a pinch of nutmeg, then lovingly moulded by hands greased with ghee, shaped into dumplings, and steamed. As I bit into it, the syrupy filling of jaggery and coconut flavoured by cardamom and nutmeg exploded into my mouth, and my taste-buds leaped for joy!
The Ukadiche Modak is traditionally offered to Ganpati at home as prasad. But few families take the trouble of making it now. Instead, people buy the readymade Kaju, Kesar and Chocolate Modak available for 1,000 rupees a kilo at mithai stores like Ghasitaram, Chandu Halwai and Brijwasi. Don’t be fooled by their appearance! These modak-shaped sweets are actually pedas, garnished with silver leaf and saffron strands, and packaged like Diwali sweetmeats. I don’t like them.
Ukadiche Modak means Ganesh Chaturthi to me. Like Plum Pudding means Christmas. And Sheer Korma means Eid. I’m hoping somebody else will get me Ukadiche Modak before Ganeshotsav ends.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content have been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. I am interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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