Durga Puja is incomplete without mishti. In Bengali, it is said that Bijoya-te mishti mukh kortei hoy (during the Pujas, you must have mishti, especially on Bijoya Dashami). So be it Bijoya or offering to the goddess, sweets are a quintessential part of Durga Puja.
On the Puja days if you don’t go to the sweet shops early in the morning, it is really difficult to get your share of sweets. The demand peaks on Ashtami and on Bijoya Dashami. From the quaint shops tucked away in every locality to the renowned ones, all shops raise their production so that people who flock in to get their favourites do not return empty-handed. Some shops even make some Puja-special sweets.
My Kolkata went on a tour of 10 sweet shops in Kolkata and drew up a list of favourites.
Putiram
Take your pick from Putiram on College Street Ashim Paul
At the heart of the Boi Para (College Street) is Putiram. Just beside the College Square Puja mandap at 46 Amherst Street, Putiram is all set for the Pujas. Rajbhog made of chhena is priced at Rs 20, Chandrapuli, which is a typical favourite mishti for the Pujas made out of coconut and kheer, is priced at Rs 10 a piece, kheer and khejurer barfi priced at Rs 10 each is made out of kheer and dates. The gulab jamun, which is a fried sweet made of chhena and soaked in sugar syrup is priced at Rs 12 a piece. Narkel naru and guli gaja the must-haves for Bijoya Dashami are also available.
Nabakrishna Guin
You will be spoilt for choice at this shop Ashim Paul
Located at 9B Nirmal Chandra Street (Bowbazar) Nabakrishna Guin is another familiar name for sweet lovers. The sandesh made out of chhena flavoured differently and with different tastes sell very well. The Paradise sandesh, Victoria sandesh or Sakuntala sandesh are all priced at Rs 25 a piece. The Nehru sandesh is much in demand during the Pujas. Made out of chhena, the sandesh is green in colour and is priced at Rs 20 a piece. Then there’s chhanar murki (small dices of chhena harder than rosogolla and soaked in sugar syrup) priced at Rs 700 a kg. Boro bonde is priced at Rs 400 a kg and the Dashami special gutke gaja is priced at Rs 500 a kg.
Bhim Chandra Nag
‘Chandrapuli’ or ‘Kamalabhog’, which one is your take Ashim Paul
Located at 5 Nirmal Chandra Street (Bowbazar) Bhim Chandra Nag has a plethora of sweets to offer. Known for its good quality sandesh, Bhim Chandra Nag is one of the most favourite shops of sweet connoisseurs.
The Abar Khabo sandesh is priced at Rs 30 a piece, Dilkhush which is a sandesh made out of chhena and kesar flavoured is priced at Rs 40 a piece, Rajbhog, Komolabhog are all priced at Rs 20 a piece. Chandrapuli made out of coconut and kheer is priced at Rs 40 a piece.
Ghosh and Co.
The chocolate ‘sandesh’ and butterscotch ‘sandesh’ are to die for Ashim Paul
Located on Bidhan Sarani opposite Srimani Market, the shop is not only a favourite of the local residents but has people flocking in from different parts of the city as well.
Chandrapuli made of coconut and kheer starts from Rs 15 a piece, Chocolate sandesh which is made of chhena and chocolate starts from Rs 20 a piece, the butterscotch sandesh, which is a mix of chhena with a dash of butterscotch is priced at Rs 20 a piece. The ice cream sandesh, which is a soft steamed sandesh, is priced at Rs 20 a piece. The chocolate sandesh has different variations like the chocolate talshash.
Dwarik Grandsons
‘Shorbhaja’ and Baked ‘rosogolla’ are the best bet here Ashim Paul
Located at the Shyambazar five-point crossing, this is one of the hotspots for mishti lovers in north Kolkata. The shorbhaja, which is made with the cream or shor of milk is priced at Rs 30 a piece, Baked rosogolla is priced at Rs 45 for a portion having two pieces, the yellowish orange-coloured rosogolla known as Komolabhog priced at Rs 20, steamed sandesh made out of steamed chhena is priced at Rs 18 a piece, Labanya sandesh made of chhena is priced at Rs 20 a piece.
Girish Chandra Dey and Nakur Chandra Nandy
Got to be Kulfi ‘sandesh’ at this one Ashim Paul
Located at 56 Ramdulal Sarkar Street, this sweet maker is known for its plethora of sandesh. Other than the regular favourites like mousumi, kanchagolla, chandrapuli and many others, the shop has something new to offer for the pujas. The Daab sandesh, which is made out of chhena and the malai (inner flesh) of coconut is priced at Rs 25 a piece. The second one is kulfi sandesh, which is made of chhena flavoured with kesar and served cold. This is priced at Rs 45 a piece.
Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick
Fried ‘kajus’ and ‘swarer’ roll are must-try here Soumyajit Dey
Known for its traditional and fusion sandesh, Balaram like every year has come up with Puja special mishtis. The shop which started in Jadubabur Bazaar (Bhowanipore) has now spread its offshoots all across Kolkata.
The Saradiya Chap sandesh made from chhena priced at Rs 100 for every 100g, Agomoni sandesh priced at Rs 35 a piece, paan sandesh which has extracts of real paan mixed with chhena and fried kajus are used to give a feel of supari priced at Rs 35 a piece, swarer roll priced at Rs 35 per piece made from malai (swar) of milk are all Puja specials. The showstopper is the Tresleche sandesh, which is a fusion of the Tres leches (cake soaked in three layers of milk) and sandesh. They have named it Tres leche sandesh and the pricing is Rs 35 a piece.
Kamdhenu Sweets
Did someone say ‘nolen gur chamcham’ Soumyajit Dey
Located in different parts of south Kolkata such as Lake Mall, Prince Anwar Shah Road and Baghajatin, Kamdhenu Sweets is a popular chain of sweet shops of south Kolkata. The top favourites of this place are norom paaker sandesh, Baikunthobhog priced at Rs 15 and Rs 20, special nolen gur chamcham, which is made of chhena and thickened milk made of nolen gur is priced at Rs 20. The chanar malai curry which has toast-like wet mishti made of chhena and topped with malai and malai bati sandesh, sandesh coated with malai. They are both priced at Rs 20 per piece.
Doiwala
‘Posto mishti’ is a sweet coated with kheer and has poppy seeds sprinkled on it Soumyajit Dey
Known for its plethora of doi (sweetened curd) specially jhuri doi of Murshidabad and kheer doi of Nabadwip Doi wala has made quite a place in the hearts of mishti lovers. They also have quite a number of mishtis too. The Kheermohan rosogolla priced at Rs 15 per piece has a portion of kheer inside the rosogolla. There’s posto mishti which is a sweet coated with kheer and has poppy seeds sprinkled on it. It’s priced at Rs 25 per piece. The kaju bite priced at Rs 25 a piece is like the soan papdi. Chanabora which is a famous sweet of Murshidabad is also available. Priced at Rs 20 per piece this sweet is a fried sweet. The jhuri doi is priced at Rs 400 per kg, while kheer doi is priced at Rs 350 per kg.
Sen Mahasay
Monohara ‘sandesh’ made of ‘chhena’ and topped with pistachios just melts in the mouth Soumyajit Dey
Located in different parts of the city, Sen Mahasay is a known name among mishti lovers. The mihidana which is fried in ghee and soaked in sugar syrup is priced at Rs 380 a kg. The Nabarupa and Parijat sandesh made of chhena and flavoured differently are priced at Rs 25 a piece. The Monohara sandesh made of chhena and topped with pistachios just melts in the mouth. It’s priced at Rs 35
