Sweets on the streets

Grand Sweets awaits!

Never enough festivals and holidays in India. Two days before Diwali, a celebration filled with sweets, family visits and firecrackers, (a plea for a "greener" Diwali may have lessened the din somewhat), Halloween has reared its scary head. One mom spotted in local shop searching for spider webs and other decorations demanded by her kids, who will trick or treat tonight with a group of friends in their neighborhood.

Diwali surpasses Halloween, however, as an occasion for giving out sweets, Collections of brand-name candies wrapped in cellophane are piled high in shops and markets and newspapers brim with ads for Diwali sweets as well as other gifts.  I went to a branch of the shop Grand Sweets not too far from my B&B to find local confections, with help from Alphonse, who drives me to and from school and other destinations in his auto rickshaw.

We had fun - and samples!

Laddoo (or laddu): The little round sweets that can be made from chickpea flour or semolina, as well as ghee and flavored with spices, nuts and coconut. Lots of recipes in the newspapers featuring "healthy" laddoo concoctions.
  

Alphonse

Pistachios, cashews rolled into a nougat.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Grand Sweets and high spirits.

                     Boxing sweets ahead of the holiday.