Chandni Padva : Surat Municipal Corporation swoops down on Sweetmeat Shops

Surat :  It’s that time of the year when the gastronomy capital of Gujarat, Surat, gears up for the much-awaited Chandni Padva festival on October 29. This festivity, celebrated with much zeal and fervor, is synonymous with indulging in the delectable “ghari,” a sweet treat made from pure ghee, mawa, and an assortment of dry fruits.

With just two days left before the grand celebration, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched a rigorous inspection campaign at sweetmeat shops across the city to ensure the health and hygiene of the residents.

Approximately 18 teams, comprising food inspectors, technical staff, and sanitary inspectors, have been assembled to conduct extensive checks at sweet shops throughout the city. The Health and Hospital Department of the SMC, led by Dr. Ashish Naik, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, is overseeing this vital initiative aimed at preventing the use of adulterated ingredients that could pose health risks to consumers.

Food inspectors have been diligently collecting samples from each sweet shop in preparation for the Chandni Padva festival, as a significant amount of “ghari” is traditionally produced in the city a few days prior to the festival. This delightful sweet is known for its use of pure mawa, dry fruits, and ghee. Health officials are taking to the field to scrutinize the quality of materials used by sweet shop owners, and strict actions will be taken against any violators of these stringent quality norms.

As per an estimate, the residents in Surat gorge on about 200 tones of ghari on the Chandni Padva festival.

Dr. Ashish Naik, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Health and Hospital, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “There is a layer on the upper side of ‘ghari,’ which may contain vegetable ghee. A few days ago, we took samples of the mawa. The usage of vegetable oil may harm the health of the people consuming it. However, we are collecting samples from all the sweetmeat shops to ensure there is no adulteration.”

Many sellers often resort to using low-cost raw materials instead of quality butter and ghee in an attempt to maximize profits, putting consumers’ health at risk. The health department has initiated a process of testing “ghari” samples, with a particular focus on assessing the quality of mawa and ghee.

Not only sweet shops but also milk cooperatives in the city, such as the Surat District Milk Producers’ Union Limited (SUMUL) and the Choriyasi dairy, have been involved in the “ghari” making business for several decades. SUMUL, for instance, annually produces over 40,000 kilograms of “ghari” for the Chandni Padva festival. This year, they are targeting to surpass the 40,000-kilogram mark after selling approximately 38,000 kilograms last year.

History of Ghari

The tradition of eating “ghari” during the Chandni Padva festival holds historical significance in Surat. It dates back to the time of the great uprising of 1857 when freedom fighter Ramchandra Pandurang, popularly known as Tatya Tope, sought shelter in Surat with his army during their guerrilla campaign against the British. During his stay, he was offered “ghari” by Devshanker Ghariwala, a renowned halwai of Surat. After consuming two pieces of “ghari,” Tatya Tope’s hunger was satiated, and he believed it would be an ideal food for his soldiers. This led to the establishment of Chandni Padva, a celebration in memory of the great freedom fighter Tatya Tope, which is now an integral part of Surat’s cultural heritage.