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Some Deepavali traditions that have come to stay in Pondicherry

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

An enduring practice is making sweets in "kalyana mandapams"

Though it closes down early on normal days, Pondicherry stayed up late last week. Shops selling clothes, crackers and sweets were open till midnight or sometimes even 1 a.m. This has become kind of a tradition during Deepavali.

"Shops remain open till late at night, and that is the time I prefer to shop because I cannot stand crowds," said Aruna, who did her shopping after 10 p.m.

A tough task

Due to the crowd on Nehru Street, Mission Street, M.G. Road and Rangapillai Street, vehicles were not allowed to enter them . Let alone shop, navigating the crowds proved a tough enough task.

Another practice that has come to stay is making sweets in `kalyana mandapams.' This practice started much before the advent of branded names in sweet shops. Till today despite the influx of sweet shops from other cities, these temporary sweet shops survive in different places in Pondicherry.

Almost 15 small-sized wedding halls are hired by sweet makers, who do not depend on advertising. "We depend on word of mouth publicity. Our regular customers always come back to us," said one sweet maker.

Kannan and Raja Catering Service, which has been in the business for 15 years, employs 30 persons to make sweets and savourieslike laddu, badusha, mysore pak, jangiri, halwa, milk sweets, cashew sweets, pista roll, cashew signs, badam halwa and ghee sonpapadi, kaara bhoondi, butter muruku, olai pakoda, somasi, badam puri and adirasam. "For us, it is a family business. We mostly depend on bulk orders. We take orders before a month and start our preparations early," said brothers Kannan and Raja.

The sweet makers also work throughout the night satisfying the sweet tooth of the people during the festive season.

"Unlike the regular sweet shops, which prepare the sweets in advance, we do it only during the run up to the festival and we ensure that the sweets are made hygienically and are fresh", added Mr. Kannan.

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