Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
As Ayodhya gears up for the momentous consecration of the Ram temple, the spotlight also turns to another cherished offering – the popular besan laddoos from Hanuman Garhi – which has officially applied for and secured a Geographical Indication (GI) designation.
Known for their unique flavour, the besan laddoos from Hanuman Garhi have undergone the formal process of acquiring a GI tag, aiming to safeguard their distinct identity and historical legacy within the ancient city.
The financial support for the application has been given by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Lucknow. The application has been prepared by SIDBI's team, alongside Halwai Kalyan Samiti of Ayodhya.
Amidst the anticipation surrounding the historic events in Ayodhya, the endeavour to obtain a GI tag for these beloved sweets adds an additional layer of cultural preservation.
The revered Hanuman Garhi laddoos of Ayodhya have followed in the footsteps of Tirupati Balaji by securing a GI tag, which designates the geographical origin of a product. This move ensures the preservation of the unique identity of these laddoos within the city so that nobody else can replicate them and claim to be the official maker of the sweets.
Highlighting the historical context, the first Indian product to be granted a GI tag was Darjeeling tea, a development that took effect on September 15, 2003. The move paved the way for recognizing and preserving the distinctive qualities of region-specific products.
In Ayodhya it is believed that the darshan of Lord Ram is only granted with the permission of Lord Hanuman, revered as the Kotwal (Guardian) of Ayodhya. The recognition of Hanuman Garhi laddoos with a GI tag further cements its role in the spiritual and cultural fabric of the historical city.