It’s sweet home with 'halvanchye dagine'

For those abroad, the traditional halvanchye dagine (jewellery made of sugar-coated sesame) is a must for celebrating Makar Sankranti. Back home, Khauwale Patankar, the 62-year-old shop in the city, is all geared up to make sure these families get the jewellery within a week.

Director of the firm, Ramesh Patankar, who is a second generation Patankar looking after the business, said such halvanchye dagine are in demand in the US, UK and the Persian Gulf. He said Khauwale Patankar is exporting 500 parcels of halvanchye dagine for Sankranti 2011.

Patankar said people used to purchase the jewellery from his shop and send them abroad on their own. But due to lack of knowledge of packaging the delicate items, the relatives abroad were disappointed with the condition of the items, which dampens their spirit of celebrating Makar Sankranti.

He said it is an age-old custom, wherein newly married couples and babies celebrating their first Makar Sankranti, are adorned with halvanchye dagine. Patankar said a parcel of the ornaments weighs up to 2 kg.

The special packaging would be done at his five shops in Pune. He said the annual photograph competition would also be held to mark Makar Sankranti and detailed information about the competition is posted on their website, www.khauwalepatankar.com.