By Tejash Modi, Surat, 14 October, 2011

Gujarat’s second largest city Surat is known for many things. One of the things is its variety of food, and the love that people have for local varieties of food.

Chandi Padvo(falls in October every year) is an occasion when Suratis enjoy a popular local variety of sweet ‘Ghaari’.

Surtis enjoy ‘Ghaari’ sweet sitting in open on footpaths of major roads with their family members.

Such unique occasion has been captured well by DeshGujarat in the video above.

The history of juagalbandi of Ghaari and Chandni Padvo goes back to 19th century when Tatya Tope came to Surat for refuge and he was offered Ghaari sweet by Devshankar Ghaarivala. Tope liked Ghaari so much that he requested his entire army should be offered Ghaari. Next day was Chandni padvo when entire army of Tatya Tope was offered Ghaari. The tradition of eating Ghaari in mass on Aaso Vad Padvo(Chandni padvo) thus began.

Devshankar Ghaarivala’s shop was situated at the place where presently there’s Choryashi dairy near Lal gate. This shop of Ghaari functioned till 1956. Devshankar’s fourth generation is represented by Bipin Ghaarivala, however he is no more in Ghaari business.

There’s another family in Surat involved in Ghaari making and selling for over a century. This is Jamnadas Ghaarivala family. Fifth generation of Jamnagadas is represented by Kunjan Ghaarivala.

“Earlier Ghaari was made from pure mava, however now we add dry-fruits on demand and make Ghaari of various flavors,” said Kunjan.

Another Ghaari maker Munnabhai even supplies boxes full of Ghaari to foreign country. He has also made a special sugar free Ghaari for diabetics patients.