KATHMANDU, Nov 6: As Tihar approaches, sweet shops across the country are gearing up for increased business, with demand for traditional and premium sweets rising ahead of the festival. However, concerns over food quality, adulteration and hygiene have put the spotlight on the safety of sweets sold in the market.
Tihar, Nepal's second-largest festival, is one of the busiest periods for the sweet industry. Sweets are widely used as offerings during Laxmi Puja, gifts during Bhai Tika and tokens of goodwill during Deusi-Bhailo celebrations. As a result, sweet shops have started increasing production and preparing attractive gift packages to meet seasonal demand.
This year, Tihar celebrations will begin with Kag Tihar on November 7, followed by Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja on November 8. Gai Puja will be observed on November 9, while Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja fall on November 10. Bhai Tika will be celebrated on November 11.
Popular sweets during the festival include barfi, peda, lal mohan, rasbari, gulab jamun, laddu, rasmalai, kajukatli and dudhbari. Demand generally peaks on the days preceding Laxmi Puja and Bhai Tika, when families purchase sweets for religious offerings, relatives and guests.
Sweet shop owners, however, say business has not picked up as much as in previous years, partly due to the impact of floods and landslides. Despite the subdued outlook, preparations at sweet shops and increased market activity indicate the beginning of the festival's main trading season.
Alongside traditional sweets, demand for attractively packaged gift boxes has also grown in recent years. Individuals, offices, companies and institutions purchase sweets to present to employees and business partners during the festival.
The cost of raw materials, including cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins and coconut, also affects the sweet market. Rising prices of cashews, pistachios and almonds have increased production costs, particularly for premium products such as kajukatli and dry-fruit barfi.
Tihar delights
According to the Department of Customs (DoC), imports of various dry fruits used in sweet production exceeded Rs 3 billion during the first three months of the current fiscal year 2026/27, from mid-July to mid-October. These products are used not only in sweets but also in bhai masala, reflecting the domestic market's dependence on imported supplies.
Traders say sweet prices have risen slightly compared to previous years due to higher costs of ingredients such as milk, khuwa, sugar, ghee and dry fruits. Prices vary depending on the ingredients used and the cost of production.
Market monitoring intensified
With sweet consumption expected to rise during Tihar, food safety and quality have become major concerns. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has intensified market inspections to check the use of substandard ingredients, adulteration, expired products and unhygienic production practices.
Effective from October 28, the department directed sweet businesses to clearly display the names of sweets, their major ingredients, the type of oil or ghee used, expiry dates and prices per kilogram.
According to the DFTQC's latest monitoring report, special inspections have been conducted at 497 sweet shops across the country. Of these, 433 shops have received directives to make improvements, while 222 have already implemented the requirement to display labels containing the prescribed details.
Province-wise, 84 shops in Koshi, 56 in Madhesh, 53 in Bagmati, 175 in Lumbini, 26 in Gandaki, 24 in Karnali and 15 in Sudurpashchim have received improvement notices.
DFTQC Director General Sanjeev Kumar Karn said food inspectors from 30 offices across the country had been mobilized for the monitoring drive in coordination with local governments, district administration offices and the DoC.
The department is preparing to take action, including fines, against businesses that fail to comply with food safety standards under the Food Act and consumer protection laws.
During festivals, when demand for sweets rises sharply, some businesses may compromise on quality to maximize profits. Previous inspections have found reused cooking oil, non-food-grade artificial colours and sweets produced or stored in unhygienic conditions, raising concerns among consumers.
Last year, inspections of 53 major sweet shops in the Kathmandu Valley during Tihar also revealed various food hygiene violations. The findings highlighted the need for regular monitoring and effective regulation of the sweet market.
The DFTQC expects the mandatory disclosure of ingredients and expiry dates to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions. It has also urged customers to check the ingredients, type of oil or ghee, manufacturing and expiry dates, and prices before buying sweets.
Apart from commercially produced sweets, demand for traditional festive delicacies such as sel roti, anarsa, lakhamari, khajuri and phini also increases during Tihar. Families that do not have enough time to prepare these foods at home increasingly turn to markets for ready-made products.
Women entrepreneurs and small-scale cottage industries have also started producing and selling sel roti and other traditional delicacies during the festival, creating opportunities for small businesses and self-employment.
Meanwhile, commercial activity has picked up in Kathmandu's New Road and Indra Chowk areas, where shops are offering discounts and special deals to attract customers. Shopkeepers have also begun decorating their outlets with lights as festival shopping gathers pace.
Although Tihar offers an important opportunity for sweet businesses to increase their earnings, actual sales will depend on consumers' purchasing power, the cost of raw materials and market demand.
While demand is expected to rise, inflation and limited purchasing power could affect the volume of purchases. Traders say maintaining product quality, reasonable prices and hygienic conditions will be crucial to sustaining consumer confidence.
The DFTQC has stressed that the expansion of the sweet trade during Tihar must go hand in hand with food safety. Businesses, regulators and consumers all have a role to play in ensuring that festive celebrations do not come at the cost of public health.
