Agra ka Petha

Peel the Ash Gourd thoroughly, remove the seeds and the soft inner pulp. Cut the Ash Gourd into 2-inch square pieces.

Using a fork or a petha pricker, prick each Ash Gourd piece all over, ensuring the prongs go deep into the flesh. This helps in absorbing the lime water and later the sugar syrup.

In a large non-reactive bowl, dissolve the Edible Calcium Hydroxide in 1500 grams of water. Add the pricked Ash Gourd pieces to this solution, ensuring they are fully submerged. Cover and let it soak for 8-10 hours, or overnight.