Kozhukattai or Kozhakattai or Modak or Kadubu is a popular Indian sweet made during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Modak is a traditional Indian sweet dish made of steamed rice flour dough filled with grated coconut and either baked or deep-fried.
The name modak is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “pleasing/attractive”, although it can also refer to someone who is plump. The common English translation for the word modak is “lucky”.
Modaks are served for religious occasions such as Ganesh Chaturthi. It is believed to bring happiness and prosperity and consumed as a gesture of goodwill during the festival. The dish is also eaten on auspicious occasions like weddings and birthdays.
The custom of offering Modaks can be traced back to Hindu culture generations ago where it was believed that the deity Ganesha would help devotees achieve their wishes if they offer him modaks during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
The origin of modak can be traced back to Maharashtra, India, where it was first mentioned in the “Khandoba Purana” during the 15th century.