PESHAWAR: Special skin Sohan Halwa of Dera Ismail Khan district, Rajjar Methai and Mardani Peera of Charsadda attracted a number of shops here on Monday ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
DI Khan’s Sohan halwa in Peshawar, Gajar ‘halwa’ from Bannu, Mardani Pera from Mardan and Rajjar Methai from Charsadda district are selling like hot cakes these days as Eid sweets.
Known as the land of hospitality, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a unique province in Pakistan, where traditional sweets such as Sohan Halwa Dera Ismail Khan become a staple food in Eid celebrations, weddings and birthday parties due to their delicious taste and energizing aspect.
Several types of sohan halwa are brought from different districts like Multan to Peshawar as Eid specials, but Dera Ismail Khan attracts many buyers because of its variety, flavor, taste and economy.
Qissa Khawani Noor Ali alias Pehlawan, who runs a popular sweet shop in Peshawar, told APP that she has taken 60 kg of sohan halwa stock from DI Khan and all of it has been sold so far.
“My son visited DI Khan to bring an additional 50KG of sohan halwa stock to meet the demand of the people for Eid and the upcoming wedding celebrations,” he said.
Apart from dry fruits, ingredients needed for halori halwa include milk, hoya, soni, fine flour, sugar, etc., which makes it more flavorful and delicious.
He said the traders from various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Punjab have booked heavy Eid orders and charged extra duty to fulfill their demand for sweets and confectionery.
Like other food items, DI Khan said that Multani sohan halwa has also increased in the local market due to price hike and in Peshawar it costs Rs 500 to Rs 600 per KG, which is cheaper than Multani sohan halwa. It sells between 550-70000 per KG.
“DI Khan likes sohan halwa in terms of activity, sweetness and energy,” says Ehtisham Khan, a teacher of Urdu literature at Qissa Khwani Market. “I bought two kg, including four kg of sohan halwa, for my daughter who was specially married on Eid,” he said.
Like sohan halwa, Rajjar Methai made from pure ‘Gur’ of Charsadda district also attracts a large number of buyers for the festive season due to its delicious taste and affordable price.
Rajjar Bazaar, one km north of Charsadda, has turned into a sweet market, witnessing a rush of shoppers at all the bakeries on the eve of Eid al-Adha.
Traditional sweets are imported in large quantities in Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera and Mardan districts, where Rajjar sweets sell like hot cakes.
Okakup Khan, owner of Razza Sweets, told APP that the business was started by his grandfather Israruddin alias Chacha Halwai in 1930 and it belongs to the third generation who is working today to support his family.
Delicious candy quality, better taste, chemical free and affordable price makes it different from other confectionery products. People served it to their relatives and guests on holidays, weddings, celebrations and children’s birthdays as a special treat, in addition to strengthening the bond of love and friendship.
“I personally like Rajjar as a sweet because it tastes good and is economical,” said Riaz Khan, a retired government official, adding that people of all social classes can afford it. “I bought four KG Rajar sweets of 400 kg each as a special wedding gift for my colleagues and friends,” he said.
Haji Oqaqob said that the popular sweet recipe has changed over the years and since ancient times there was no sugar in Charsad, only butter, flour and gurban which my father used.
Today, desi ghe is prepared with different ingredients like milk, ghee, ghee and white flour, adding to its flavor and delicacy, he said. The famous Manis attract traders from Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics as they travel to the subcontinent via Charsadda and Peshawar via GT Road.
Local people send sweets as gifts to friends and relatives who live in other parts of the country and abroad. It is also exported to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and several countries in the Middle East, in addition to being sent to the US, England and other western countries as special gifts for friends and relatives.
Similarly, sweet mardani pera made from milk and ghee besides other ingredients attracts buyers. “Mardani sweets are the first choice for Eid. “I bought 10 kilograms of sweets as special celebratory gifts for my married sisters, maternal uncles and relatives,” he said.
