Matlab's Khir: A sweet delicacy for foodies in Chandpur, beyond

CHANDPUR, Feb 07: The Khir, a dish of sweet rice pudding, of Matlab Dakhshin upazila of the district has long been treated as a delicious sweet item of unique taste by the food-lovers across the district since Pakistan regime. Not only in Chandpur; it has also become equally popular and favourite among the people outside the district.
With smiles, it is rhythmically said, "Matlaber Khir, Bogurar Doi, Na Kheye Kemne Roi? (Matlab;s Khir, Bogura's yogurt; how can one stay without tasting those?." It is a common and popular verse uttered in the mouths of the people of all ages in Matlab Dakhshin, Matlab Uttar and Chandpur Sadar and beyond. So, whenever any visitor visits Matlab Dakhshin Upazila town, he/she has to take it at least once as Matlab takes pride in this delicious food item after meal.
The dessert item has been available in the sweetmeat shops and restaurants of the bustling commercial hub of Matlab Dakhshin upazila town for the past 70 years.
The people of Matlab , whenever they visit their relatives, do not forget to take at least one kg of Khir with them as gift or token of love from Matlab. Some sweetmeat shop or restaurant owners singlehandedly make it; as they claim, they have inherited it from their forefathers since Pak regime.
Often this delicious item is sent to the close kin in cities too through private courier service , by bus and launch.
According to veteran restaurant owners - Brojo Dulal Ghosh of M/s Nando Cabin and Shujoy Ghosh (son of late Gandhi Ghosh) of M/s Gandhi Ghosh Mistanno Vander in Matlab Bazar , in order to prepare one kg of Khir, five litres of pure milk is needed.
One kg milk is locally available at Tk70.
After cooking milk in a big pan for two hours in the oven of cylinder gas, when the milk gets condensed , a small quantity of sugar, as per need, is mixed with it.
Then it is cooled down by electric fans for some time. Finally it is preserved in the clay- built pans as per weight. 500 gram,1 kg or 2 kgs. Per kg Khir is sold at Tk 550.
It is learnt, no cream is extracted from this milk. Nor flour or milk powder is mixed with Khir. It is now-a-days cooked by using cylinder gas. In the past, it used to be cooked by fire woods which is scarce for the past few years.
Asked, sweetmeat maker Brojo Dulal Ghosh told the FE, on an average, Khir of around Tk 70,000 is sold in his outlet every day.
He adds, Khir is sent in packs to Dhaka and many other distant places by parcel through courier service by bus and launches.
All the Khir traders sell Khir everyday from morning till mid night and earn much profit. The popular Khir makers and traders - Sujoy Ghosh, Utpal Ghosh - all residents of Ghosh Para, while Nirmal Ghosh of Dashpara in Matlab Dakshsin Upazila Sadar have been carrying on this Khir business for many decades in Matlab Dakhshin Upazila town..
There are some 10/15 Hindu families too in Koladi and Baishpur areas in Matlab Dakhshin Sadar who make and then sell Khir for many years for their livelihood.
In replying to a question, Brojo Dulal Ghosh has told the FE, "We collect pure milk in the morning at the rate of Tk70 per litre from trusted milkmen from different rural areas."
A veteran Khir - maker told the FE, it needs pure cow milk , sugar and gas. It costs about Tk 450 to make one kg of Khir. Then we can sell it at around Tk 500-550 per kg. Many sweetmeat shop and restaurant owners place order of Khir for sale in rural haats and bazars in Matlab Dakhshin, Matlab Uttar, Hajiganj, Chandpur Sadar, and Daudkandi, and other distant places.
Elderly citizens - Maksudul Huque Bablu (76) , Shakhawat Hossain (58), headmaster of a local high school, and a few other senior citizens told the FE, on the occasion of Puja, marriage , Jamai shosthi, circumcision and other social and religious festivals, Khir was and is still being served to the guests just after meals as per tradition in Matlab Dakhshin and Matlab Uttar upazilas.
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According to the sweetmeat traders in Matlab Dakhshin Upazila, Khir is available in the sweetmeat shops of Chandpur district town. But the Khir of Matlab Dakhshin has a different taste and flavour which satisfy all.