Mihidana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bardhamaner Mihidana |
|
|---|---|
| Geographical indication | |
Mihidana form Saktigarh
|
|
| Alternative names | বর্ধমানের মিহিদানা |
| Description | Bardhamaner Mihidana is a type of sweet of West Bengal |
| Type | Sweets of the Indian subcontinent |
| Area | Bardhaman, West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Registered | 29 April 2017 |
| Material | Powdered Kaminibhog, Gobindobhog and Basmati rice, Saffron, Ghee, Sugar |
Mihidana (Bengali: মিহিদানা) is a yummy Indian sweet from a place called Burdwan in West Bengal, India. It's a bit like a tiny version of another sweet called Boondi. The name "Mihidana" actually means "fine grain" because "Mihi" means fine and "Dana" means grain.
Contents
History of Mihidana
Mihidana has an interesting history! A long time ago, a sweet-maker named Khettranath Nag first created Mihidana and another sweet called Sitabhog. This happened in Bardhaman when Maharaja Mahatabchand Bahadur was in charge.
Lord Curzon's Visit to Bardhaman
About 72 years after these sweets were invented, they became famous all over India. This happened because a very important person, Lord Curzon, visited Bardhaman.
On August 19, 1904, Maharaja Vijaychand Mahatab invited Lord Curzon to Bardhaman. The Maharaja wanted to welcome Lord Curzon with something truly special. So, he asked a sweet-maker named Vairabchandra Nag to create new and amazing sweets.
Vairabchandra Nag took on the challenge. He created two brand-new sweets: Sitabhog and Mihidana. Lord Curzon was really surprised and impressed by these unique treats. He even gave Vairabchandra Nag a special certificate! Lord Curzon said he had never tasted such wonderful sweets before.
After this special visit, the fame of Sitabhog and Mihidana spread far and wide. They became known across the country and even in other parts of the world. Vairabchandra Nag's son, Nagendranath Nag, shared this story on the radio in 1976.
How Mihidana is Made
Mihidana is made using a special process. First, fine powders of different types of rice are used. These include Kaminibhog, Gobindobhog, and basmati rice. A little bit of gram flour is added to the mix.
To give Mihidana its beautiful golden color, a small amount of saffron is mixed in. Then, water is slowly added, and the mixture is blended by hand. This continues until the color becomes lighter and the batter is just right.
Next, the batter is poured through a special brass ladle. This ladle has tiny holes in it. As the batter goes through the holes, it falls into a pot of hot ghee (a type of clarified butter). The tiny grains are deep-fried until they are crispy.
Finally, these fine, fried grains are dipped into a sweet sugar syrup. They soak up the syrup for a short time. After soaking, they are drained, and the delicious Mihidana is ready to eat!
Popularity of Mihidana
Mihidana is a very popular sweet, especially in West Bengal. It's even mentioned in songs and stories!
The famous Bengali actor and comedian, Nabadwip Haldar, sang about it in one of his lines:
Bagbazar rasgolla, Bhim Nagar Sandesh
Bardhamaner Siddhog, Mithidana Dorbesh
This shows how well-known Mihidana is, alongside other famous sweets. Mihidana also appears in the fun "Pagla Dashu" stories written by Sukumar Roy.
Geographical Indication Status
Mihidana from Bardhaman in West Bengal received a special status called "Geographical Indication" (GI). This happened on April 29, 2017.
A Geographical Indication is like a special tag. It means that a product has a specific origin and qualities that are unique to that place. It helps protect the name and quality of products like Mihidana, which are famous for their special taste and how they are made in Bardhaman.
