Power packed & guilt-free: Dry fruit laddoos add extra flavour to Diwali festivities in city

In a season known for indulgence, city’s festive sweet scene is seeing a quiet revolution — dry fruit laddoos and mithai are stealing the spotlight, offering a healthier, handcrafted alternative to sugar-laden treats.

From homemakers rolling laddoos in their kitchens to boutique sweet shops offering sugar-free and ghee-rich bites, city’s Diwali platters are getting a power-packed upgrade.

Neha Bansal runs a home-run venture in Model Town and her date and nut laddoos are flying off the shelves. “People want sweets that taste festive but don’t spike sugar levels,” says Neha Bansal, who uses figs, almonds, pistachios and flaxseeds in her recipes.

“We don’t add refined sugar — just natural sweetness from dates and raisins.”

The trend is also visible in gifting. Boutique stores are curating dry fruit mithai boxes with kaju anjeer rolls, pista squares and walnut-stuffed khoya bites, often wrapped in eco-friendly packaging. “These sweets feel premium and thoughtful,” says Ritika Malhotra from a boutique sweet shop.

“They’re perfect for health-conscious families and corporate gifting.”

As per a recent industry report, health-focused sweets, including sugar-free, protein-fortified and dry fruit-based options, now account for a growing share of festive sales.

City’s sweetmeat shops are responding with innovation. Such shops have also introduced a sugarless dry fruit barfi and kesar pista laddoo made with jaggery and almond flour.

For many homemakers, the shift is also personal.

Simran Kaur, a mother of two from BRS Nagar, began making dry fruit laddoos during the pandemic. “Now it’s a Diwali tradition. I make them with my kids. No sugar, just roasted nuts, dates and a bit of ghee. They’re nutritious and nostalgic.”

Nutritionists are also encouraging the trend. “Dry fruit mithai offers fiber, good fats and energy without the crash of refined sugar,” says Dr Deepti Arora, a Ludhiana-based dietician. “Just watch the portion size — two laddoos can be a meal,” she said.

As Ludhiana lights up for Diwali, these homemade and wholesome sweets are proving that tradition and health can go by hand in hand — one laddoo at a time.