Pune: With Diwali just days away, a bustling market for traditional festive snacks has emerged, as time-strapped homemakers and professionals increasingly turn to ready-made snack offerings.

Across Pune, approximately 6,500 women’s self-help groups are meeting this demand by preparing traditional Diwali snacks, a venture that has created a significant income stream for local women.

Many homemakers are balancing work and daily chores, leaving them without time to prepare traditional snacks. Recognizing this need, self-help groups have set up stalls around the city, selling snacks directly to customers, while some women have chosen to sell from home.

The sale of these traditional festive treats, including chakli, karanji, shankarpali, boondi ladoo, and chirote, is seeing growing popularity, especially among working women who appreciate the convenience and authenticity.

Rudra, a center that has sold Diwali snacks for eight years, reports increasing demand each year, with orders now reaching other states and even overseas.

According to Rudra’s head, Savita Wanjale, "Our most popular items include chakli, besan ladoo made in ghee, rava ladoo, and dink ladoo. About 8 to 10 women contribute to preparing these items."

Jayashree Thombre from Shri Sai Women’s Self-Help Group shared a similar story: “Initially, I prepared Diwali snacks from home, but the increasing volume of orders made it necessary to involve more group members.

Demand has been higher this year than last.” This festive season, traditional snacks continue to draw interest from all age groups, with particular demand for items like low-oil chivda and sugar-free ladoos.

One customer, Professor Priyanka Wakde Patil, commented, “With my daily work commitments, I rely on these women’s self-help groups for traditional snacks. They’re convenient and maintain high quality.”

Approximate Prices for Diwali Snacks (per kilogram)

• Bhajani Chakli: ₹550

• Karanji: ₹650

• Refined Oil Anarse: ₹600

• Ghee Anarse: ₹1000

• Ghee Besan Ladoo: ₹550

• Ghee Rava Ladoo: ₹500

• Sweet Shankarpali: ₹400

• Spicy Shankarpali: ₹400

• Thin Poha Chivda: ₹400

• Ghee Chirote: ₹600