Sweets Festival in Hyderabad Parade Grounds

Hyderabad, Jan 15 (INN): Sankranti and Lohri festivities in the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad began on a 'sweet' note as the three-day sweets festival culminated off at Parade Grounds on Monday.

Apart from indulging in sweet delicacies, the feeling of joy in the company of Indian and International participants created the Parade ground in global village. This whole concept was the brain child of Secretary Tourism and Culture B. Vekatesham.

Venkatesham said that the festival was 100% by households with no hotels, shopkeepers, caterers or commercial representation. The categorization of stalls was done, not according to the states or their places of origin, but according to the sweets they're serving. For instance, if there was a stall serving kheer or payasam, all the stalls serving its variants occupied one single corner of the arena. The response has been phenomenal with a total footfall around eight lakh. On Sunday, the footfall crossed three lakh and by evening the ground was packed."

World Sweet Festival 2018 was the first of its kind. In India it happened at Hyderabad, the sweetest food festival of the year with cultural fiesta. The first of its kind, the fest provided a sweet gastronomical experience to one and all with its lavish spread comprising 78 varieties of Laddoos, 77 varieties of Halwa and 67 variety of Payasam, representing various part of the country.

Moushumi Chaudhury, executive committee member of the Hyderabad Bengali Samiti, participating in the fest said, 'This is one of the unique events I have ever experienced. I am sure it will back all the sugary goodness in all of us. We have 32 Bengali sweet delights in the fest. "

Best delicacies from25 Indian states and several sweet innovations from 15 different countries including Korea, Spain, Turkey, Ethiopia, Brazil, and Afghanistan were also on display on an opening day. Counters had samples of ' sweet treats ' set out for taste and sale as well.

This event was covered with the latest technology of 360 degree by google and live podcast across all mobile platforms and smart web enable TV's by Travel World Online channel.

Yeneneesh, a vendor from Ethiopia was overwhelmed after selling out the entire dabbokolo stock - a sweet dish made from coffee beans. "I did not expect such a great response all my items were within no time," she said.