‘Patriotic’ sweets in high demand in Varanasi

VARANASI - “Rashtriya burfi”, “tiranga jalebis”, “Jawahar laddus” and many such sweets are being offered by the sweet shops in this eternal city as Independence Day approaches.

Sweets in the three colours of the national flag have become the most sought after in the city, some 250 km from state capital Lucknow.

“In the last three days, there has been considerable demand for ‘Independence Day sweets’,” Shiv Mohan Agarwal of the Ram Bhandar sweet shop here told IANS.

While many people are buying such sweets for their personal use, several schools and other institutions have placed bulk orders for such sweets, he added.

The characteristic features of such sweets are the combination of three colours. “Saffron, white and green layers have been dexterously arranged in a sequence one below the other following the pattern of the Indian flag,” said Ram Chandra Soni, owner of a sweet shop.

Sweets that are being branded as Independence Day sweets include mava burfis, peda and kesar kaju katlis, he added.

Most of the sweets are being sold at the same prices as their normal, everyday equivalents.

“We want more and more people should opt for such items that will contribute in their own way giving the patriotic flavour to the Independence Day celebrations,” said R.L. Gupta, another confectioner.

Arun Kumar, a bank employee and resident of the Sarnath area of the city, who purchased the sweets: “The idea behind launching the Independence Day sweets is laudable. We have sweets for every festival. Then why should not there be sweets for Independence Day, which is above all of the festivals and celebrated by people irrespective of their religion.”