Ghantewala facts for kids
The Ghantewala Halwai was a very old and famous sweet shop in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India. It first opened way back in 1790 CE. It was known as one of the oldest traditional sweet shops in the country.
This sweet shop served important people like Mughal Emperors and even Prime Ministers of India, from Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi. For many years, it was also a popular place for visitors in Old Delhi. It was especially famous for its Sohan Halwa.
In July 2015, the shop closed down. This happened because fewer people were buying sweets there, and there were some legal problems. However, it reopened in November 2024.
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History of Ghantewala
The shop was started by Lala Sukh Lal Jain. He came to the city of Delhi from Amber, India. His family continued to run the shop for seven generations.
How did it get the name "Ghantewala"? There are two main stories!
The Emperor's Bell Story
One story says that the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, gave it the name. He lived in the Red Fort. Near the sweet shop, there was a school with a bell. The Emperor could hear this bell ringing. He would tell his servants to get sweets from the "shop below the bell" (ghante ki neeche wali dukaan). Over time, this long name became simply "Ghantewala."
The Bell-Man Story
Another story says the founder, Lala Sukh Lal Jain, used to sell his sweets by walking through the streets. He would ring a bell to get people's attention. As he became well-known, people started calling him "Ghantewala." This is a Hindi word for "bell-man." Later, when he opened his own shop, he named it "Ghantewala."
Ghantewala's sweets were already very popular even before the Indian Rebellion of 1857. A newspaper from that time, 'Dihli Urdu Akhbar', wrote about how delicious the sweets were. It said that even rebels would enjoy the sweets of Ghantewala.
Lala Sukh Lal Jain first sold a Rajasthani sweet called Mishri Mawa. By 2015, the shop offered 40 to 50 different kinds of sweets. They would change the sweets based on the season or special festivals.
Popular Sweets and Snacks
The 'Sohan Halwa' was a big favorite. People from far away places, like the Gulf region, loved it. Other popular sweets included Pista Burfi, 'motichoor ki ladoo', Kalakand, and Karachi halwa. They also sold snacks like makkan choora.
Before it closed, Ghantewala also sold traditional Indian snacks. These included namkeen, samosa, and kachori. During festivals like Holi, they sold special sweets such as gujiyas.
Why Ghantewala Closed and Reopened
The shop closed down in July 2015. Many people were sad and surprised by this news. Newspapers wrote about how it felt like losing an important part of the city's history.
There were a few reasons for the closing. One reason was that people's tastes were changing. More people started buying chocolates instead of traditional sweets. Another big reason was legal problems. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee wanted the shop to move its workshop. The owner, Sushant Jain, who was the seventh generation of the family, said it was too difficult and expensive to move.
However, the good news is that Ghantewala reopened in November 2024.
See also
- Punjabi Chandu Halwai Karachiwala, Mumbai
- K.C. Das Grandsons, Kolkata
- Kesar Da Dhaba, Amritsar
- Badkul Mishtan Bhandar, Japalpur
External links
- For travelers
pl:Chandni Chowk
