Making the famous Agra sweet Petha from white pumpkin

From the archive record

Men make Petha at a shop in Agra. Petha is a translucent soft candy from North India and Pakistan. Usually rectangular or cylindrical, it is made from the ash gourd vegetable. With growing demand and innovation, more varieties of the original preparation are available. Many flavoured variants are available, e.g. Kesar Petha, Angoori Petha etc. There are some other variations based on content, one with coconut mixed, another with some nuts put into it. Sometimes kewda essence is used to flavour petha. Ingredients : 4 kgs bottle gourd (doodhi / lauki) 1/4 tsp slaked lime 3 cups sugar Method: -Peel and deseed the pumpkin and cut it into 25 mm. (1") squares. -Prick each piece with a fork at close intervals. -Rub the pumpkin pieces with the slaked lime and keep them aside for 10 to 15 minutes.