Laddoos and Festivals

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One of the most important festivals in Hindu tradition, Rakhi, has just gone by. This festival symbolising the great love between sister and brother is synonymous with yummy mithais being made in almost every household. We are two sisters but our mother made sure that we did not feel left out of the celebrations and so we were involved ceremoniously in making motichoor laddoos.
Oh! What an indescribable pleasure it was. The whole process of making those yellow balls of delight would get us excited days before the actual event.
As we grew up we came to love other variants of this versatile sweet. My sister, who is a much better cook than me, has gained proficiency in making modaks. Modaks are a popular form of sweet from western and southeren India. The mention of modaks brings to mind the colourful and vibrant celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi. The sweet filling is generally made up of freshly grated coconut and jaggery while the outer shell is made of rice or wheat flour mixed with maida. Modaks are Lord Ganesha’s favourite food and for this love he is also referred to as modakpriya in Sanskrit.
Then there are my own favourite, the coconut laddoos. Modern day science and the boom in supermarket culture has ensured that making them is a task that can be accomplished in 15 minutes flat. I am sure that you must have also heard names like ‘till ke laddoo’, ‘besan ke laddoo’ and many others which are as heavenly and nourishing as their siblings.
We all know that laddoos are an irreplaceable part of our religious festivals. Unfortunately some new-fangled ideas about the best diet put certain restrictions on our consumption of these lovable energy balls.
I agree that anything in excess is harmful for our health and so would be any of these laddoos if you do not watch how many you gobble for their sheer taste.
But if you look closely at the ingredients of any of these laddoos, you are bound to notice the goodness and richness that they contain.
One of the most important elements of laddoos is ghee or clarified butter. According to ayurveda, consumption of ghee is like offering the finest fuel to the body for its optimum working. Ghee helps in keeping our organs soft, increases the most refined element for digestion called ‘ojas’ which underlies our immunity.
Another thing that makes all the laddoos an incomparable treat is the nuts that are either used as a ingredient or garnish.
Now, you may have heard that nuts are fattening but contrary to this perceived notion, nuts contain all those essential fatty acids which help maintain a glowing skin and lustrous hair. They also are a storehouse of essential vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, E and K. Many of them are a rich source of minerals like iron, magnesium and zinc, again, essential for maintaining good health and vigour.
In traditional recipes for laddoos jaggery is used to add sweetness and is a rich source of minerals and vitamins. So next time your mother or granny gets ready to prepare this wholesome sweet make sure you lend a helping hand and reward their effort with appreciation.

(My thoughts on the wonderful laddooooooos, that appeared first in The New Indian Express on August 10, 2012)

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