Modak or Modakam, also referred to as Koḻukattai in Tamil, is an Indian sweet dumpling dish popular in many Indian states and cultures. According to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, it is one of the favourite dishes of Lord Ganesha and the Buddha and is therefore used in prayers.
The sweet filling inside a modak consists of freshly grated coconut and jaggery, while the outer soft shell is made from rice flour or wheat flour mixed with khowa or maida flour. There are two distinct varieties of Modakam, fried and steamed. The steamed version (called Ukadiche Modakam) is often served hot with ghee.
Early mentions of modaka are found in Ayurveda, Ramayana and Mahabharata where it is described as a dumpling confectionery with sweet stuffing. Sangam literature similarly mentions modakas as rice dumplings filled with sweet stuffing that were also sold by street vendors in the ancient city of Madurai. The medieval Manasollasa culinary text explains that modakas, as prepared with rice flour and a sweet stuffing with aromatic spices such as cardamom and camphor, were called Varsopalagolakas because they looked like hailstones.
In a Hindu context, the word 'modaka' is explained as being derived from the words "Moda" and "Pramoda", meaning joy, happiness, delight; modakas being gifts that Ganesha, the god of good luck, bestows on his devotees. The shape of modaka is also said to represent a bag of money. Thus, it is also used to symbolize wealth, and all the sweet pleasures that wealth gives to humans.
In a Tantric context, its shape is seen to symbolise an upward pointing triangle, which in Tantric art represents Shiva, i.e. spiritual reality, in contrast to the downward pointing triangle, which represents Shakti, material reality.
Modak is considered to be the favourite sweet of the Hindu deity, Ganesha. From it, he gets the moniker modakapriya (one who likes modak) in Sanskrit. Modak is also considered to be the favourite sweet of Gautama Buddha. During Buddha's Birthday, modaks are offered to lord Buddha.
The modak is an old preparation. If you look at old sculptures, Ganesha is depicted with laddoos as well as what appear to be modaks. The depiction is as old as the 6th century Common Era (CE). The artwork at Ellora (600-1000 CE) has the attribute of Ganesha as someone who is eating something that looks like a modak.