PETALING JAYA: Amid a busy modern life, the sound of hands rolling dough for kai muruku (hand-rolled muruku made without moulds) is becoming increasingly rare in Indian households, especially among the younger generation.
Many now take the easier route – buying ready-made muruku, replacing the patient handiwork that once symbolised love and family tradition.
But for single mother V. Lakshmi Bai, 73, from Kampung Tunku here, keeping the art of kai muruku alive is more than nostalgia – it is an expression of love for her ancestral heritage.
“In the past, there were no moulds at all – that’s why people made kai muruku. I don’t want this culture to disappear, so I still make it by hand until today,” she told Bernama.
For more than three decades, Lakshmi has preserved this traditional method, and today she is the only one among her siblings who still makes kai muruku every Deepavali.
Each piece demands patience and skill. To make around 40 pieces, Lakshmi needs nearly 45 minutes.
She said each spiral of kai muruku is more than just food – it is a symbol of love, patience and a heritage that must be preserved.
