A customer checks out a dry fruit packet at Sabzibagh in Patna. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Oct. 23: With the festival of lights around the corner, all roads lead to Sabzibagh these days.

The mad rush in front of several outlets in the dry fruit hub points to the rising popularity of such products, and not sweets, as the Diwali revellers’ choice of gifts. If sweets are losing out to dry fruits during this festive season, blame it on the poor quality of the milk products.

Abdul Rashid, a shop owner at Sabzibagh, said: “People want to buy something that can be used instantly and also store it. Another factor behind people’s choice of dry fruits is the fear of adulterated sweets flooding the market.”

He added: “People now have plenty of options, other than sweets, as Diwali gifts for their relatives and friends. The demand for dry fruits has increased so much that I am selling gifts worth Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 everyday.”

Dry fruit gift hampers come in various shapes and sizes and they contain walnut, cashew nut, almond and raisin. The hampers range between Rs 250 and Rs 750.

Customers also do not disagree with traders like Rashid. Manju Sinha, a homemaker, said: “I want to buy something that can be eaten and also stored for long. Preserving sweets is a difficult task. This is why I am buying dry fruits gift packs this Diwali for my loved ones.”

Vivek Kumar, another shop owner in the Boring Road area, said: “We are offering a wide range of dry fruit packets. We also export dry fruits to various parts of the world. We pack the fruits in quality packaging materials to ensure that their quality and aroma remain intact. It’s the main reason why dry fruits are more in demand.”

Shailesh Kumar, another customer, said: “Adulteration of sweets is a common practice during the festive season. Traders dealing in sweets do this to make some extra money during the festive season. It’s the government’s duty to protect us from adulterated food.”