Health Coach Slams ‘Needless’ Westernised Modaks On Instagram, Calls It A ‘Culinary Crime Scene’

 Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 is finally here, and so are those delicious modaks! From coconut to chocolate, sweet shops are already stocking their shelves with a wide variety of treats. But here’s a question: should the modak, a sweet that is synonymous with Ganesh Chaturthi, really go through makeovers and be westernised? If you think yes, this health and lifestyle coach might just change your mind.

Modak Makeovers Are Not Needed 

 

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A post shared by Dr Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail)

Considered Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet, modaks hold an important place in Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations across India. They symbolise prosperity and wisdom and are usually made with rice flour, coconut, and jaggery. But in recent years, you may have noticed food vloggers and chefs dishing out their own versions, proudly calling them a ‘modak makeover.’ From brownie modaks to Oreo modaks and everything in between, social media is flooded with such experiments.

Now, Dr Nandita Iyer or @saffrontrail on Instagram, who is a health and lifestyle coach, uploaded a video sharing her thoughts on these makeovers. She begins the video by saying, “Every festive season, Instagram turns into a culinary crime scene.” She points to examples of modaks being dunked in chocolate or stuffed into cheesecakes, calling these westernised fusions “needless.” Dr Nandita Iyer also reminded viewers how netizens once lost their minds when Starbucks renamed haldi doodh as “golden milk latte”, calling it cultural appropriation. So why, she asks, do we ourselves morph traditional sweets into western desserts, something she calls “vandalism of our heritage.”

Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi 2025: From Modak To Ice Cream, 10 Festive Gifts To Make Your Celebration Special

Authentic Recipe’s Significance & Netizens’ Reaction

Dr Nandita further explained that modaks are not made in a certain way by chance: their shape, ingredients, and timing are significant. Their shape represents Mount Kailash, while coconut and jaggery are used because they are harvested at the peak of the monsoon, when Ganpati Bappa arrives. Each element has a spiritual meaning and has been passed down for centuries. She believes such traditions should not be changed just for Instagram likes.

Her views struck a chord with many. One user wrote, “I do agree with you – for me it’s all about the authentic recipe, real flavours and heritage,” while another thanked her for saying it out loud. Someone else added, “I am just fed up with all this. My take on modak. I mean, why can’t people leave at least festive food alone? Another user added, “No need to make it healthy or western-inspired.” Another Instagram user made a funny comment and wrote, “Waiting to see matcha protein modaks now.” While another added, “Yeah! Just saw a ravioli shaped like a modak filled with Palak paneer.” Many also pointed out that influencers are now making protein-packed or low-calorie modaks that do not go with the spirit of the festival.

Also Read: 8 Best Places In Pune To Get Modaks For Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration

Do we really need to turn modaks into brownies, cheesecakes, and western desserts to make them appealing? Modaks are meant to be enjoyed in their authentic form, a recipe that carries the true spirit of the festival. So, what are your thoughts on these so-called modak makeovers? Let us know. 

Cover Image Courtesy: @saffrontrail/ Instagram and @RajshriDhananj1/X