For the last 14 years, Soundaravalli S has placed its orders for traditional Diwali bakshnam (Sweets and Snacks) 1 month ago Caterer L.V. With Pattapa. When the caterer organizes his Diwali fair at a wedding hall in the city, she comes, packs the sweets and savouries, and sends them to her daughter’s family in California. However, this cherished tradition may have come to a halt this year, as Soundaravalli is unsure whether the package will arrive on time.
“Such is the situation for us this year,” says Balaji Pattappa of Pattappa Catering Services, Triplicane. “It is only during Diwali that elders in India spend time and effort sending their children their favorite things. bakshnam Due to its impact in America this year, we have had to reduce our production by about 30%.
Customers choosing sweets at the Diwali fair organized by Friends Catering, Coimbatore. , Photo Courtesy: S Shiva Saravanan
The shipment of Diwali sweets to the US has been significantly affected this year after the implementation of new tariff policies. As a result, shipping costs have increased rapidly, and there have been unexplained delays in delivery.
“Our traditional bakshnam Its shelf life is 10-14 days. If there is any further delay in delivery, it defeats the purpose of sending them to families in the US. This appears to be the main reason behind the considerable decline in shipments to Indian expatriates this year,” says RK Venkatesan of Cheap Catering Services, Porur, who has set up a Diwali fair at the Narayani Ammal Kalyana Mandapan in Mandaveli. “The increased tariffs have discouraged many of my customers from sending.” bakshnam to their families in the US, and I have seen a 50% to 70% drop in shipments from our kitchen,” says Mr Venkatesan.
Kamesh Sridhar of Arusuvai Catering Services says that there has been a 25% decline in the consignment of sweets and namkeen sent this year. Customers’ primary concern is potential delays in delivery, even if they don’t mind spending more.
A. “I don’t mind the increased cost, but I am concerned about the delay,” says Prema, whose son lives in San Francisco. Prema says, “My son and his family visit every year, but it has been two years since he last visited Chennai. So this year, I decided to send all his favorite sweets and savouries, ignoring the high cost and hoping that they would reach on time. I have sent 10 kg through DHL and I hope so.”
D. Saravanan of DHL’s international courier and cargo division says shipments to the US have been badly affected this year due to the tariffs imposed. “Also, the emergency situation surcharge (ESS) of ₹150 per kg on shipments from India has further increased the burden. While consignments are reaching the US within four or five days, recipients there have to pay import duty before collecting the sweets. As a result, we have seen about a 90% decline in shipments. However, some families are still preferring to send packages to their loved ones,” he says.
However, shipments to other countries continue smoothly without any major disruption.
A special sweet stall was organized by Kamalambal Catering at Vidya Bharati Mandapam, Mylapore in Chennai. , Photo Credits: Akhila Easwaran
LN Srinivasan, owner of LVN Catering Services, Mylapore, says that some of his regular customers who send bakshnam Overseas still went ahead with their orders, and the shipments reached their destinations within four days. “My customers are not bothered by cost; their main concern is whether the delivery will be delayed or confiscated,” he says.
Despite the challenges, families continue to find ways to keep the festive spirit alive. At the moment, many families are opting to celebrate Diwali with calls and video chats instead of couriered sweets.
