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Chocolates and cakes challenge traditional sweets
by Sunil Sharma

     Chandigarh/Amritsar: As a growing number of people in the cities prefer giving chocolates and cakes as gifts on Diwali festival, many traditional sweets are being replaced. Many confectioners say that the recent trends have proved to be a boon for bakers. One such shop is of Nik Baker's in Chandigarh who are keeping busy these days cashing in the festive mood ahead of Diwali. Nikhil Mitta, owner of the Nik Baer’s IK BAKER'S, said: “I see a big change. People used to buy a lot of sweets last year, now they have shifted to chocolates and cakes. People don’t relish much Indian traditional `mithai'. “A Lot of people are giving chocolate as a Diwali gift like dry cakes, fruit cakes and plum cakes,” he added. The traditionalists deny the new charm for chocolates or cookies can ever replace the traditional sweets. The optimism is based on the fact that for centuries, Diwali celebration have been known for enjoying traditional sweets prepared at local shops by families. The traditional sweets hold their own charm among the masses. The traditional sweets usually contain plenty of clarified butter and sugar, popular brands like the Sindhi's and Nathu's are offering sugar-free varieties, using artificial sweeteners. Parents and children relish sweets after offering the first piece to the Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi after worshipping their idols. Abhishek Bajaj of the Sindhi Sweets in Chandigarh, said: “On Diwali, people meet their loved ones and colleagues at the work place with warmth and give Indian traditional sweets. It has been a part of the celebrations. It could be that chocolates have come into fashion but the traditional sweets hold their own significance.” In Amritsar, traditional sweet shops are full of sweets boxes to be delivered on Diwali. Shopkeepers like Amarchand and Sons and Kanhiya Sweets are busy preparing their popular ‘Besan Ladoos' and `Pinnis', the special Indian sweets, to supply it to local residents and also to non-resident Indians abroad. Avinish Sharma of the Amarchand and Sons in Amritsar, says: Since few years gifts items have become popular during Diwali, but the trend is fading away slowly. The demand for traditional sweets is on rise. Any occasion is incomplete without sweets. The tradition of sweets during Diwali will last forever. Be it chocolates, cakes or traditional Indian sweets – India lives with its rich tradition of exchanging sweets during Diwali.
-Oct 20, 2008