Tosh116's Fotothing

Ganesh Utsav 2007 (Festival )
Modak pronounced Mo(Mo as in "more") +the(as the word "the") + 'K' as in 'K'ing = Mo+the+K, is a sweet dish which originated in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Usually, modaks are made with an outer crust of rice flour, and a filling of coconut (sweetened with jaggery or, sometimes, sugar). Saffron is also added sometimes. Modaks are then steamed, and are served either hot or cold. Sometimes they are also deep-fried to increase their shelf life.

It is considered to be the favorite food item of Lord Ganesh. It is customary to offer twenty-one or one hundred eight modaks to Lord Ganesh.

It is a typically Maharashtrian delicacy . It gained prominence and became famous during the rule of the Peshwas, who were staunch Ganesh worshipers.

No Ganesh chaturthi is considered to be complete without "ukdiche modak".

The same is the case with the Ganesh Chaturthi as celebrated in Tamil Nadu, where the Modak is again the speciality of the day. In Tamil, it is called the Kozhukattai.

Nowadays confectioners make modaks out of condensed milk i.e same material that "pedas" are made of.

The filling inside the modak is called "saaran" and is made of coconut. Traditionally, the filling is not dry . It should be wet and syrupy.

Making perfect modaks is a skill as the outer layer should not be too thick nor too thin so as to rupture.