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Birthdays of political figures in India are rarely a quiet affair. They usually involve massive hoardings overflowing flower garlands and a level of fanfare that could easily rival a small royal wedding. But when the person in question is a saffron clad ascetic who usually keeps things decidedly low key the contrast becomes rather delightful. On the fifth of June this year Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath turned 54. While he was busy launching a massive statewide tree plantation drive in Lucknow his enthusiastic supporters in the spiritual capital of Varanasi had entirely different and considerably sweeter plans. The celebrations unfolded at the towering 51 foot Varad Anjaneya Hanuman Temple in Harhua Varanasi. The centrepiece of this gathering was not a traditional tiered sponge cake covered in fondant but a staggering 54 kilogramme cake made entirely of laddus. Yes 54 kilogrammes. For perspective that is the average weight of a fully grown adult human but composed completely of roasted gram flour sugar and pure desi ghee. It is the sort of culinary marvel that would make any fitness enthusiast break out in a cold sweat yet in the realm of Indian political devotion it makes perfect sense. The logic is wonderfully straightforward you turn 54 you get 54 kilogrammes of sweets.
Balancing Caloric Extravagance With Ecological Duty
His own idea of celebrating his birthday which conveniently coincides with World Environment Day was to set an ambitious target of planting five crore saplings across the state under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative. He appealed to citizens to fulfil their duty towards nature and the nation from the Kukrail forest area. Meanwhile his ardent fans in Varanasi decided that the best way to honour this eco friendly ascetic was to construct a mountain of sugary indulgence. Of course the supporters did not completely ignore the environmental memo. To balance out the colossal calorie count of the laddu cake they also organised a plantation drive right there at the temple premises. Exactly 54 saplings were planted matching the Chief Minister age and the weight of the cake. They carefully chose trees considered sacred and beloved by Lord Hanuman such as tulsi banyan neem and sindoor. It was a perfectly Indian compromise between spiritual devotion environmental consciousness and an unapologetic love for mithai.
Image credit: The Hawk
The Art Of The Giant Laddu
The logistical challenge of creating a 54 kilogramme laddu cake also deserves some appreciation. It requires a dedicated team of halwais a staggering amount of ingredients and structural engineering skills to ensure the giant sweet does not collapse under its own weight before the crucial cutting ceremony. The act of binding that much roasted flour and ghee into a single cohesive mound is an art form in itself. Laddus hold a special place in Hindu temple culture especially in a Hanuman temple where boondi laddus are considered a favoured offering.
One can only wonder what the supporters will plan for next year. A 55 kilogramme cake seems like the logical next step maintaining the tradition of matching the weight to the age. Perhaps the environmental aspect will also scale up with 55 saplings to offset the sugary extravagance. Whatever the plan it is certain to be a spectacle that captures the unique flavour of Indian political fandom where devotion is measured in kilogrammes of ghee and the earnestness of public prayers. For now the 54 kilogramme laddu stands as a triumphant if slightly overwhelming testament to a very happy birthday in the heart of Uttar Pradesh.
