Malhana is more than a business venture. It is about childhood memories, shared dreams and honouring unspoken promises.
It is also an effort to bring in our lives, here in Fiji, an appreciation for premium quality Indian sweets.
Meaning of Malhana:
The name Malhana is inspired by generations old legend. Malhana is a magical land where everything is made of sweets. The houses, the trees, the sky and even the grounds are all made from beautiful and delicious laddoos, gujiya, gulab jamun and many more.
In this magical land, there is no sadness or pain. Here, one could treat oneself to an everlasting journey of fun, joy and love.
Pushpa Wati Deo, a legendary sweet maker and the motivation for our product line, used to tell stories of Malhana to her children when they were growing up.
Pushpa suffered domestic violence for a long part of her life. Poverty was also a major part of her life. As she had not received formal education, finding work was sometimes hard also. To bring an end to her violence, Pushpa moved out with her three children and brought them up as a single mother. The family lived in constant dismay of poverty and abuse.
And yet during these very difficult moments of their lives, the story of Malhana was that of hope and happiness.
This could be the reason why Pushpa’s children grew up to become successful people.
Inspired by this magical land, Pushpa created some of the most amazing recipes. She was a talented cook and loved to create food that would bring happiness to others. She had a real passion for sweets. Her recipes were well protected and only shared with a handful of people very close to her.
Pushpa, with the help of her son, was working on a launch of a Malhana product line. She had chosen the name, identified the first range of product line and had even spoken to Shamima Ali, coordinator of Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and a close family friend, to launch the product line.
Then, in the midst of everything, on July 22 last year at around 6:15am, while doing her morning prayers, she collapsed. She passed away moments later in the arms of her youngest son. This sudden departure left those close to her shattered. However, the dreams of Malhana lived on.
Malhana a tribute:
Malhana is a tribute to Pushpa who loved to bring happiness to people’s lives through creative cooking. It is a tribute to all those who believe in life, love and hope. It is tribute to survivors and victims of abuse and a reminder that we can move on and change our situation.
Our product line includes Malhana suji laddoo, Malhana rice laddoo, Malhana Coconut Laddoo and Malhana creamy cutie Pie. More products will be added in months to come.
Our product line, which is crafted from secret family recipes, is an attempt to capture the magic of Malhana and bring it into all of our lives. All Malhana products are made from the finest ingredients available and each individual product is personally handcrafted. We do not practice mass production.
Health is another factor that we consider with our products. This is why we use natural sweetness. The love with which we make the products is enough to make them sweet!!
Our rice laddoo is also ideal for those who consume gluten free products.
On April 14, Malhana product line was launched at Saffron Restaurant. All original ideas that were discussed before Pushpa passed away were kept. As such, Shammima Ali launched the product and only those items that were originally made.
Especially for Mother’s Day, we are introducing one of Pushpa’s personal favourite recipes. This is gujiya- dumpling of exciting crunchiness and an epic journey of delight.
Our Gujiya pastry is prepared with delicate care and in the right condition to ensure a unique crispiness. Each wheat flour packaging is done by hand- a skill acquired from the generations of creativity.
The stuffing is a mixture of healthy and premium ingredients assuring you of a pleasure in every bite
We invite everyone to indulge in those lost and forgotten childhood years of fun and happiness. Indulge in the magic of Malhana.
