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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian sweet from Bengal}}<br />
'''Ledikeni''' ({{lang-bn|লেডিকেনি}}) or '''Lady Kenny''' is a popular [[Indian sweet]] originated in [[West Bengal, India]] and also consumed in [[Bangladesh]]. It is a light fried reddish-brown sweet ball made of [[Chhena]] and flour, soaked in sugar syrup. Ledikeni is named after [[Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning|Lady Canning]], the wife of [[Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning|Charles Canning]], the Governor General of India during 1856–62.<br />
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== History ==<br />
The sweet originated in [[Kolkata]] in the middle of the 19th century. There are various legends regarding the origin of the sweet. According to the most popular legend, a special sweetmeat was prepared by Bhim Chandra Nag in the honour of [[Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning|Lady Canning]] at some point during her stay in India from 1856 till her death in 1861.<ref name="oxford">{{cite book|last1=Krondl|first1=Michael|last2=Rath|first2=Eric|last3=Mason|first3=Laura|last4=Quinzio|first4=Geraldine|last5=Heinzelmann|first5=Ursula|title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XPNgBwAAQBAJ|accessdate=25 September 2015|date=1 April 2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199313624}}</ref> In some versions of the tale, the sweetmeat was prepared to commemorate her visit to India in 1856, while in other versions, it was prepared on the occasion of her birthday.<ref name="oxford"/> Some variations of the tale state that it became her favourite dessert, which she would demand on every occasion.<ref name="krondl">{{cite book|last=Krondl|first=Michael|title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC|accessdate=25 September 2015|year=2011|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=9781556529542|pages=67–70}}</ref> According to yet another legend, the sweet was prepared by the confectioners of [[Baharampur]] in 1857, after the mutiny, to commemorate the visit by Canning and his wife.<ref name="oxford"/><br />
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Lady Canning died in 1861. Since then the sweetmeat has gained popularity in Bengal. No grand feast was considered complete if the sweetmeat was not offered to the guest.<ref name="krondl"/> The manufacturer was said to have made a lot of money by selling the sweetmeat although some have claimed that its popularity is due to the name rather than the taste.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/hindoosastheyar01bosegoog#page/n71/mode/1up| page=51|author=Bose, Shib Chunder|edition=2| title=The Hindoos as they are: A description of the manners, customs, and inner life of Hindoo Society in Bengal| place=Calcutta| year=1883| publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1525/gfc.2010.10.3.58|title=The Sweetshops of Kolkata| journal=Gastronomica|volume=10|issue=3|pages=58|year=2010|last1=Krondl|first1=Michael}}</ref> As it gained popularity, the sweetmeat came to be known as "Lady Canning" which gradually got corrupted to "ledikeni".<br />
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A sweet very similar to the modern [[pantua]] and ledikeni, but made of rice flour, is mentioned in the 12th century [[Sanskrit]]-language text ''[[Manasollasa]]''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Michael Krondl |title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC&pg=PA41 |year=2011 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-954-2 |pages=41–42 }}</ref><br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Pantua]]<br />
* [[Gulab Jamun]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Indian desserts]]<br />
[[Category:Sweets of West Bengal]]</div>UpdateBot