Kolkata, Oct 02: A quiet battle is bubbling this Puja. It doesn’t matter who wins, the outcome can only be sweet.
Kolkata’s traditional sweetmeat makers, upstaged of late by the halwais from Rajasthan, are making a determined bid this Puja to regain their dwindling customer base.
Playing upon the Bengali weakness for sweets during the festive days — particularly during Bijoya Dasami — confectioners in north Kolkata are introducing a tantalising array of creations this year.
Dwarik’s, which shifted in 1885 from Howrah to Shyampukur, still has three shops in the city. A great grandson of the founder Dwarkinath told TNN that two delightfully novel milk-based products — a soft casein and cashew sandwich named Tripti and an improved rabri christened Amrita — are being launched this year, along with timetested delicacies like kesar sandesh, dilkhush and rasa madhuri.
The K.C. Das house of Baghbazar, the pioneers of vacuum sponge packed rosogollas, intends to repackage its array of exquisite kheer innovations, including the finger-licking amrit kalash and chanar payesh.



Manjulika Das, director and CEO of the company in business since 1886, promises at least one mouth watering new-comer — the chandra rambha ( the name suggests the use of a banana base).



The Girish De- Nakur Nandi establishment on Beadon Street, near Azad Hind Bagh (Hedua), is out to match the more exotic north Indian fare on Kalakar Street and Shakespeare Sarani. Famous for its expertise in sandesh, the store the Hedua shop will offer soft sandesh in fruit flavours — orange, pineapple and strawberry.



Well-tested regulars like jalbhara, moushumi, parijat and babu sandesh will, of course, remain the mainstay of the Girish Nakur spread that will continue till the night of Diwali.



Bhim Nag, the famous sandesh makers, are reviving a 50-year-old sandesh called Victoria on popular demand. Apart from bulk orders for gift dalis, parties and family reunions, these doyens of the trade also expect the usual Puja rush of pandal hoppers dropping in for a quick snack.



“Even in these days of fast food centres and takeways, we have our die-hard regulars looking for quality and taste,” gushes a shop assistant at Sen Mahasay, another old timer with outlets all over festive Kolkata.