Home ›› 09 Nov 2021 ›› Nation
The first thing that pops up in every body’s mind upon hearing the name Munshiganj is Patkhher, which is one of the most popular sweetmeat items of the country.
Being a pride for Munshiganj as well as for the country, the item’s appeal has spread far and wide.
The delicious food item made from pure cow milk, has drawn admiration from consumers not only from Bangladesh but also from other countries including the USA, Canada, Italy and India.
The traditional item is around 200 years old and is made only at Ghoshbari at Goalpara crossing under Santoshpara village of Rosunia union in Sirajdikhan upazila of the district.
Around 20 families in Goalpara have been making the food item over the last seven descents, said the sweetmeat makers Sunil Chandra Ghosh, Khokan Chandra Ghosh and Master Madhab Chandra Ghosh.
They have made much name and fame through the item, and there is a sweetmeat shop named Rajlaxmi Mistanno Bhandar in Sirajdikhan Bazar which is also familiar as Sunil Ghosher Mistir Dokan.
Sunil Ghosh died three years ago and now his brother Khokan Chandra Ghosh is running the shop.
Besides, some others including Bharati Ghosh, Jagdish Ghosh, Samir Ghosh, Shankar Ghosh, Shibu Ghosh, Shyamol Ghosh, Manik Ghosh, Bimal Ghosh, Gopal Ghosh and Sidam Ghosh also prepare Patkheer, said local sources.
Though the food item has demand round the year, its demand increases much in winter and on the occasion of special days.
“On Christmas day, we have to provide around 5,000 kilogramme Patkheer,” said Khokan Chandra Ghosh.
Patkheer is also used in making another Bengali food cake Patisapta Pitha.
As per the Bengali tradition, Patkheer is served for new bridegroom or any guests in a house. The taste increases after mixing chamcham (a kind of sweetmeat), ripe mango and rice and milk in a dish.
The Patkheer makers said they buy cow milk in the morning and boil around two maunds of milk for around three and a half hours. After the milk gets thick, they mix one kilogramme of sugar and five grammes of turmeric powder in it. For diabetic patients, they supply sugarless Patkheer.
After the milk gets dry, Patkheer is ready for placing in earthen curd pots. Polythene sheet is placed on the bottom of the pot and then the hot Patkheer is put in it. After several hours the item gets cool and then it is wrapped in banana leaves and taken to shops for sale.
They added that many customers from faraway places come to buy Patkheer from here. Per leaf of Patkheer weighs 500 grammes.
From two maunds of milk, 24 leaves or 12 kilogrammes of Patkheer is made. Per leaf of the item is sold at Tk 300. Many people place orders through mobile phones to buy Patkheer. Many traders buy the item and sell it in different areas of old Dhaka.
“We are running the trade to keep alive our ancestral profession. Due to price hike of milk, we cannot make much profit nowadays,” said the trader.
Visiting the market on Friday, many customers who came from several areas opined that their family members like Patkheer very much.
SM Kamal of Munshiganj Sadar said they buy the sweetmeat on several occasions as his family members are fond of it.
Rois Mukul of Narayanj said he comes to Munshiganj sometimes only for buying the sweetmeat as it is very delicious.
Munir Morshed, owner of Ghasphool Nadi in Aziz Market, Dhaka, said his family members like the sweetmeat very much. So, he goes to Munshiganj when he gets time.
Proprietor of Rajlaxmi Mistanno Bhandar Khokan Chandra Ghosh said they supply Patkheer on different occasions.
Sirajdikhan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Syed Faizul Islam said Patkheer is a traditional food of Munshiganj which is well-known far and wide.
“We should come forward to save the business,” he pointed out.
