Sweet dish demand rises before Maghi

By Our Correspondent,Babai (Bardiya), Jan. 12: The day the Sun’ enters Capricorn from Sagittarius is celebrated as the Maghi festival. During Maghi, people enjoy dishes made from sugar candy (Sakkhar), such as sesame seeds, molasses eaten with ghee, laddus, and sweet potatoes.

The demand for sugar candy increases during the Maghi season. Due to this high demand, the sugar candy industry located in Chaugurji village, Ward No. 7 of Gulariya Municipality, is currently bustling with production. Up to five hundred quintals of sugar candy is produced daily.

The general public come to the industry to purchase the sugar candy produced there. All the sugar candy is sold directly from the industry. Since demand is high during Maghi, the industry operates at full capacity every year during this period.

Ram Prasad Yadav, who runs the sugar candy industry, said that operating a sugar candy business in the village is cost-effective, and since pure sugar candy is produced, customers now prefer to buy directly from the industry. Brijesh Yadav of Gulariya Municipality Ward No. 7 emphasized that utmost attention should be paid to purity during sugar candy production.

The sugar candy produced by the industry is not sold elsewhere; buyers come directly to the industry. Since production for Maghi has started, the general public have flocked to the sugar candy industry, and the candy has found a good market.

The industry, usually deserted at other times, is now bustling with people. Anil Pokharel of Gulariya Municipality Ward No. 6 said he visited the industry to buy sugar candy because he could get pure sugar candy there.

Most of the sugar candy sold in the market comes from India. Since Indian sugar is often mixed, people now prefer to buy from the local sugar candy industry.

The village sugar candy industry has also provided employment for six people. The industry stated that it not only produces sugar candy but also contributes to local employment.

The Tharu community celebrates Makar Sankranti, observed by hill communities as the New Year. Birbal Tharu of Gulariya Municipality Ward No. 6 said it is a tradition for the Tharu community to start new work from Makar Sankranti.