Last week, I had the honour of being invited as the Guest of Honour at the 8th World Mithai Namkeen Convention & Expo 2025 held in Delhi. It was more than just a trade expo. It was a glimpse into the future of an industry deeply rooted in Indian culture but ready for global scale.
The event was impeccably organised by Firoz Bhai Naqvi, strongly supported by stalwarts like Haldiram’s, Bhikaji, and the team at FSNM who continue to elevate the space with serious intent.
A special note of thanks to Vipin Agarwal ji for inviting me and congratulations on the launch of his book Keshar, a beautiful tribute to saffron, its cultural legacy, and its economic value.
What I Shared on Stage
During my interaction, I spoke about something that’s close to my heart, something that often goes unnoticed:
The critical role of mithai in temple towns and places of worship.
Let’s pause and think about this:
A mithai picked up from a sweet shop is just that mithai.
But the moment it is offered to a deity in a temple, it transforms into Prasad.
And once it is distributed, it’s consumed by every kind of devotee – young, old, healthy, diabetic, undernourished.
That one piece of Prasad is no longer just food. It carries faith. Which is exactly why food quality, hygiene, ingredient integrity, and standardisation become non-negotiable.
This isn’t just a product. It’s a sacred offering.
The Real Gap and the Real Opportunity
In too many temple towns, food standards are left to chance.
There are no clear regulations on what’s being made, how it’s being handled, or what ingredients go into offerings that are meant to be divine.
This creates risk not just for health, but for trust.
If we want to protect the temple economy and the spiritual tourism ecosystem around it, we have to bring structure to this space.
Food-grade certifications
Standardisation across temple towns
Clear hygiene protocols
Local vendor training and empowerment
That’s where I see deep potential for collaboration between FSNM and Temple Connect – to make temple food systems more trusted, more scalable, and more sacred.
Events like this remind us: the future of mithai and namkeen isn’t just about modern packaging or exports. It’s also about preserving purity where it matters most – inside temples, where belief meets food.
Grateful to be part of this journey. Humbled by the recognition. Excited for what’s ahead.
