One such customer, Vinita Barve, a resident of Dadar, was seen busy checking the list of snacks she wishes to send to her daughter abroad
Autumn ushers in merry engagements for sweetmeat shops in the city. With Diwali around the corner, the shops come alive with the hustle bustle of customers swarming in to grab hampers to give away as Diwali gifts.
One such customer, Vinita Barve, a resident of Dadar, was seen busy checking the list of snacks she wishes to send to her daughter abroad, while an executive from a courier company was busy collating the confectionery into a box that will be sent to the US. Just like any other doting parent, Barve does not want her daughter settled in the US to celebrate the festival of lights without the usual Diwali Faral, a range of traditional Maharashtrian snacks and sweets.
The city is rife with the likes of Barve, who do not want their kin residing abroad to not drown in the festive fervour. Barve, for that matter, has been sending Diwali hampers to her daughter for the past five years. "Earlier, I used to send it from a store in Vile Parle, now I send it from a shop in Dadar," she added.
Since Diwali is just a few days away, the rush at Godbole stores in Dadar, famous for sending Diwali hamper overseas, has increased manifold. The store is run by Sachin Godbole, who started the trend of sending hampers to other countries about two decades ago. Now, his family has joined the business. The shop's 'Diwali Faral Hamper', which Bhosale sends to around 176 countries, contains 32 kinds of sweets and snacks along with diyas, kandeels (paper lanterns), moti soap, and rangoli stickers.
Vaishali Godbole, Sachin's nephew, said that around 300 parents turn up at his shop almost everyday during the festivities to send Diwali faral. The faral includes diyas, kandeels, laddoo, chakli, chiwda, karanji, sakapali, and moti soap, among others. She said that they take all such items, even homemade snacks, pack it safely and ensure they get delivered before Diwali.
There are a number of shops in Dadar that help such parents send Diwali hampers to their kin staying in other countries. Godbole said that over the period, the number of shops offering such services has increased.
Mangeshlal Mohite, another parent, said his son misses homemade snacks during Diwali. "He grew up enjoying faral during the festival. By sending this hamper, I try to help him get that feel even thousands of kilometre away," Mohite said.
Godbole store has two types of faral hampers, one being specifically for students. "We have customised the hampers as per need; one just needs to pay requisite amount," said Vaishali.
Another well-known shop — Panshikar — informed that maximum Diwali hampers are sent to the US, UK, and Australia.
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