KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Deepavali is, of course, a festival of lights. But it is also, in equal measure, a festival of tastes, of aromas that waft from the kitchen long before dawn, of trays heavy with sweets and snacks offered with a smile.
In the Klang Valley, as the season approaches, it isn’t uncommon to see counters stacked with golden laddus or murukku spirals that promise a crunch.
What follows is a small selection of places where one might procure these festive delights — enjoy exploring those that intrigue you or, better yet, all of them!
Laddu love at Sangeetha Veg Restaurant
At Sangeetha, the bustle of a vegetarian restaurant at peak lunch hour conceals another treasure: its sweets counter.
Here the laddus sit in neat pyramids, their orange hue catching the light; the health conscious might prefer their Dates Laddu.
Gulab jamun glisten in syrup, each one a soft indulgence. It’s the perfect spot to feast first, then sweeten your day with a festive box to go.
Halwa haven at Moghul Mahal
Moghul Mahal offers a different register altogether, leaning towards the richness of North India.
Their kaju katli is pale and elegant, the sheen of cashew paste tempered with just enough sweetness.
A spoonful of carrot halwa, dense with ghee, is almost too much — almost, but not quite.
And then there are the jalebis, their bright orange coils fried and plunged into syrup until they gleam.
To sit down for a meal here and then depart with a parcel of these confections feels like extending the feast beyond the table.
Palkova power at Patiala Punjabi Sweets
In Brickfields, Patiala Punjabi Sweets carries none of the trappings of a restaurant dining room.
Instead, there is a modest stall, trays arrayed with sweets made the old-fashioned way.
The palkova, a traditional confection of milk and sugar, is hard to find elsewhere.
The discs of peda are compact, their sweetness softened by the richness of ghee.
There is often a line during the festival season, with regulars waiting patiently.
Pop-up pleasures at Jesal Sweet House
Jesal Sweet House arrives and disappears, like a comet that passes only once a year.
To spot a Jesal pop-up at a mall near you is to be reminded that Deepavali is near — the anticipation is part of the pleasure.
Their stalls are a riot of colour, with bright laddus, glossy jalebis and beautifully packed boxes that scream “gift me!”
Limited-time only and always buzzing, Jesal is the sweet equivalent of a fireworks show: joyful, vibrant and oh-so-festive.
Vadai vibes at Best Vadai
At SS15 in Subang Jaya, the air is redolent of frying oil and spices. Best Vadai is famed for its namesake snack — the fluffy uluntu vadai and crunchy masala vadai.
During the festive season, however, the repertoire expands: murukku that crunch satisfyingly, banana balls fried until golden. Here sweetness meets its foil in savouriness; together they make the sort of balance every festive table craves.
Sweet sharing at Sri Tirupathy
Then there is Sri Tirupathy Sweets in Segambut, where scale matters. Here one does not purchase a few pieces but trays, entire boxes to serve a houseful of guests.
Their laddus, biscuits, murukku, chips and mixtures are reliable, straightforward, unfussy.
Families return because the taste is familiar, because the quantities suffice, because in the end what matters is that everyone is fed and fed well.
Festivals have a way of sharpening our senses — lights appear brighter, gatherings seem warmer, and food tastes more vivid.
In the Klang Valley, these sweet makers and snack sellers are part of that heightened season, offering what they do best so that we might celebrate more fully.
Perhaps that is the point: not simply to eat, but to share, to remember, to mark another blessed Deepavali with something sweet on the tongue.
Sangeetha Veg. Restaurant
65, Lebuh Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur.
Phone: 03-2032 3333
Open daily 8am-11pm
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sangeethavegrestaurant/
Moghul Mahal
153, Jln Sultan Abdul Samad,
Brickfields, KL.
Open daily 9am-11pm
Phone: 03-2272 5870
Web: https://www.moghulmahal.com.my/
Patiala Punjabi Sweets
Jalan Scott,
Brickfields, KL.
Open daily 10am-9pm
Phone: 014-623 7490
https://www.facebook.com/people/Patiala-Punjabi-Sweets/100078454012313/
Jesal Sweet House
To order, contact: 012-692 6205
FB: https://www.facebook.com/jesalsweethouse/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jesalsweethouse.official/
Best Vadai
W-10-00, Ground Floor,
Subang Square,
Jalan SS15/4G,
SS15, Subang Jaya.
Open daily 10am-7pm
Phone: 03-3180 9629
Sri Tirupathy Sweets
10, Jalan Udang Geragau,
Taman Megah Kepong,
Segambut, KL.
Open daily 8am-8:30pm
Phone: 012-224 1046
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sri-Tirupathy-Sweet/100063567160779/
