Trichy, Tamil Nadu Prepares for a Healthy Millet-Filled Diwali

Ahead of the upcoming festival season, Trichy is gearing up for a unique and healthy celebration of Diwali with a focus on millet-based foods. Local bakeries and sweet shops are ramping up production of sweets and snacks made from nutritious millets to cater to the increasing demand. Shop owners have reported receiving bulk orders, prompting them to expand their production capacity to meet festive requirements.

One sweet shop owner, Sarvanan, highlighted their preparations for this festive season. “We manufacture sweets and snacks… During Diwali, the orders are in bulk, so we have to produce large quantities. Our signature product is Srirangam special. Additionally, we have a variety of millet products, 27 varieties in total, and we also offer instant mixes like pickles,” he said. Millets are known as “the first crops” and “crops of the future” due to their exceptional nutritional value. They are climate-smart grains requiring minimal water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and they are highly resilient to drought and pest attacks.

The global millet movement has been strongly supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led a campaign resulting in the United Nations declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets. The focus on millet-based Diwali treats in Trichy aligns with this initiative, promoting healthier and sustainable food options during the festival. Diwali, celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. This year, Diwali falls on October 20, and preparations across the state are in full swing.

In addition to millet-based treats, firecracker production in Tamil Nadu has also gained momentum ahead of the festival. Abhishek, owner of Sonny Vinayaga Fireworks in Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, expressed optimism about this year’s sales. “We hope all products will be sold within the year. Prices have not increased compared to last year. Sales are expected to be better due to low production and high demand,” he noted.

Hari Ram Kumar, Managing Director of Sonny Vinayaga Fireworks, shared that the company is introducing new varieties for customers this season. “People expect newer products each year. We have launched crackers in different colors and designs, including jungle-themed crackers and children-specific designs featuring lions, wolves, tigers, cartoons, games, and music themes. The response has been encouraging so far,” he said. These innovative products aim to enhance the festive experience for both children and adults, making this Diwali a celebration of health, creativity, and tradition.

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