Tamil Nadu: Preparations for a healthy Millet Diwali in Tiruchirappalli

Chennai: Ahead of the upcoming festive season, Tiruchi is gearing up for a healthy “Millet Diwali.” Bakeries and sweet shops are ramping up production of sweets and snacks made from millet. One such sweet shop owner, Saravanan, explained that he’s been receiving a large number of orders and has ramped up production for the season. “We make sweets and snacks… During Diwali, orders are in high volume, so we have to produce in large quantities… Our signature product is the Srirangam Special… Besides, we have a wide variety of millet products, with 27 varieties… We also make instant mixes like pickles…” Millets, often referred to as “the first crop” and “the crop of the future,” are a storehouse of nutrition. These climate-friendly grains require minimal water, fertilizer, or pesticides and are incredibly resistant to drought and insects. Prime Minister Modi has been a driving force behind the global millet movement, leading a campaign that led the United Nations to declare 2023 the International Year of Millets. Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated with great fanfare in the country. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. This year, Diwali, celebrated with great pomp and show, will be celebrated on October 20th. Meanwhile, firecracker production has also increased in the state. Abhishek, owner of Sunny Vinayaga Fireworks in Virudhunagar, Sivakasi district, expressed optimism about business sales this season. He said, “We hope to sell all our products this year. There hasn’t been much increase in prices this year. It’s the same as last year. There will be no price increase this time. Everything will be good this year.” Speaking about Diwali coming earlier than usual this year, Abhishek said, “This year, Diwali has come a little early. Sales this year will be better than last year. We expect higher sales this year because production is very low. Therefore, I believe that this year, demand for all products will be high, and people working in this field will earn well.” Furthermore, Hari Ram Kumar, Managing Director of Sony Vinayaga Fireworks, said that the company has also focused on introducing new varieties for customers. He said, “People expect new products from us every year. This time, we have launched different colors and designs. We will see how our customers respond to the latest varieties. Sales have always been good, and this year is comparatively better.” Meanwhile, manufacturers have also introduced special designs for children this Diwali season. Jungle-themed firecrackers are also available, such as those packaged in lion, wolf, and tiger-themed boxes. Along with this, many new varieties of firecrackers based on cartoons, sports, music and other themes are also being introduced to attract children of all ages.