Pre-packaged platters and innovative items popular picks for Bhai Phonta

Kolkata: With the Pujas and Diwali done, celebration-loving Kolkata is looking forward to Tuesday to celebrate Bhai Phonta. For the Gujaratis, it is Bhai Bij on the same day. Sweet shops across the city on Monday saw a surge in demand, which is likely to continue till noon on Tuesday.

Sweets are the biggest draw for the event and these days, Bhai Phonta-themed sweets and platters are created especially for the occasion. The custom is that a khaja, accompanied with a dry sweet, a syrupy sweet and a savoury is served on a platter for the brother. These days, most shops prepare this platter and package it so buyers can just get these without having to shop for the various items themselves.

“We have acrylic, earthen and bell metal plates decorated with the right sweets and savouries that people can take their pick from. This apart, we have also come up with baked kalakand as a Bhai Phonta special this year,” said Sudip Mullick, spokesperson of Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick.

Almost every popular sweet maker has Bhai Phonta-embossed sandesh on his shelf because these sweets, available in various sizes and price options, are a craze these days. “We have come up with kesar chhanar payesh and kesar butter sandesh for Bhai Phonta this year. We brought them out on Monday afternoon and by early evening, they had been sold out. People are always looking for something new and we are happy that we are able to innovate every year,” said Tapan Kumar Das of Nalin Chandra Das, a 200-year-old chain.

According to the almanac, the auspicious time for Bhai Phonta is between 6.30am and noon on Tuesday. Most sweet shops will start business from 5am on Tuesday, anticipating heavy rush. Sweetmakers plan to work all night to cope with the Tuesday-morning demand.

Despite the all-round slump in the market, sweet shop owners said they were happy because during Diwali, they did bumper business and though there is a 5%-10% slump in overall festive sales, the Bhai Phonta demand is sure to make up for it.


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