Pune: Sugar-free and baked traditional sweets like karanji, chakli, shankarpali, laddu, diet chivda are now catering to the requirements of health-conscious Punekars this Diwali.
The sweets shops are now keeping separate counters for these special sweets that are low on sugar content and non-fried.
Baked karanji are preferred by sweet lovers in the city.
Mahendra Gadhve, owner of Kaka Halwai, said, “Traditional Diwali sweets include baked karanji with health-conscious people purchasing it. The specialty for Diwali this time is 'Kaju Oreo Barfi'. The demand for these are coming from consumers who are particular about their calorie-intake and for gifting purposes.”
Pune's famous Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale also has something for the fitness-conscious. Vasant Paradkar, Manager, said, “Demand for baked sweets is more than the fried ones because it stays fresh for a longer period of time.”
Sugar-free dry fruit sweets are another item that is finding many customers. Vijay Agarwal, Manager of Pradeep Sweets Nigdi, said, “The sugar-free products especially made for Diwali include Gulab Jamun, Kalakand and Anjeer Dry Fruit Masti. There is more demand for sugar-free sweets in this area.”
“Consumers are asking for baked sweets like chakli, karanji and shankarpali,” said Ashok Choudhary, Manager of Rasrang Sweets of Pimpri, adding, “During Diwali, these baked sweets are more demanded by the consumers than the fried ones.”
