Tracing the Historical Origins of Karnataka’s Obbattu Sweet

Photo: Deccan Herald

The obbattu, also known as holige in Karnataka, is a festive sweet similar to Maharashtra’s puran poli and Tamil Nadu’s poli. Its origins trace back to 12th-century King Someshwara’s Manasollasa, which mentions wheat flour cakes with various fillings. Historical texts like Lokopakara and Soopa Shastra document its evolution, with the term holige appearing after the 16th century. Variations like mandige, hurige, and suruli holige are also noted.

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