New Delhi: The city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh is known all over the world for obviously one reason, the famous Taj Mahal which Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan constructed to house the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. While the legacy of the erstwhile capital of the Mughal Empire is largely defined by the Taj Mahal and to some extent the Agra Fort, there is a special food which has also fetched Agra massive amount of fame around the country and also beyond the borders. Yes, we are talking about the famous ‘Agra ka petha’.
The ‘petha’ of Agra and the Mahakumbh Mela 2025
The famous ‘petha’ is a beloved sweet which is synonymous with the rich heritage of Agra. Now, it is adding a touch of sweet flavour to the Mahakumbh 2025. A staggering 501 kilograms of petha have been sent to the largest religious gathering in India to be distributed as ‘prasad’ to the crores of devotees who are and will be visiting the Mahakumbh Mela. Normally, only one or two varieties of the petha are popular, but for the Mahakumbh, Agra has sent 21 flavours of petha which have been specially prepared. These varieties include classic favourites like kesar petha, paan petha, white petha, and unique flavours like butter barfi petha, barfi petha, chocolate, strawberry and orange.
According to a PTI report, Agra even sent its famous petha during the pran pratishtha ceremony of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. In Ayurveda, petha is known as kushmanda and has been used since ancient times in religious rituals. It has been a part of offerings during religious ceremonies and is given as ‘prasad’.
How did ‘Agra ka petha’ made its way to Indian cuisine?
For centuries, the ‘Agra ka petha’ has enjoyed a special place among the Indian cuisines and is hugely popular all over India, especially in the northern part of the country. It originated during the Mughal rule in the subcontinent, which reigned from the 15th century to the 17th century. The Mughal emperors and noblemen loved food and they introduced many new dishes to Indian cuisine.
It is believed that the Mughals introduced ‘Agra ka petha’ since they loved sweets and were always looking for new and innovative ways to satisfy their sweet tooth. The emperors encouraged the development of new cuisines and dishes and it led to the introduction of many foods in the Indian cuisine.
The ‘Agra ka petha’ was created as a special sweet for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. He loved sweet dishes and often ordered his chefs to prepare new and unique desserts. One day, his chef experimented with the ash gourd flesh and created a new sweet that was soft and translucent with a unique flavor. The emperor loved it and named the sweet ‘Petha’, which in Hindi means ‘soft candy’. Initially, the petha was prepared by boiling ash gourd in sugar syrup.
The other legends behind the origin of ‘Agra ka petha’
It is believed that Emperor Shah Jahan once ordered his chefs to make something white and pure as the Taj, and as a result, the royal chefs prepared the petha. According to another story, during the construction of the Taj Mahal, the workers were given jaggery cubes due to the marble dust. Later, Shah Jahan asked his chefs to prepare an interesting sweet using jaggery and hence the petha was prepared. The sweet being high on sugar also gave the workers some instant energy.
Over the years, petha has become an integral part of Indian cuisine. A popular sweet in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Agra, there are many shops in the city that specialize in this sweet. It is also popular in other places in northern India like Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The petha has also cultural significance, as in Agra it is considered to be a lucky charm and is often given as a gift to bring good luck and prosperity.
Agra’s famed petha, a sweet made from ash gourd, is gaining national attention. Around 501 kg of 21 petha varieties were sent to the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 as prasad. Its origins trace back to the Mughal era, with legends linking its creation to Emperor Shah Jahan. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
