AFZAL HUSSAIN FAUJI/Nainital
In addition to the Naini lake and its natural beauty, Nainital is also known for the special candles made here. These candles have been popular for decades, especially among tourists. These candles are made in various designs, colours and with different aromas by locals and the demand for these candles increases during the Deepawali celebrations. Both the locals and tourists purchase these candles during the festivities.
Among the outlets selling such candles, the Mehrotra House of Wax is a shop about 50 years old and considered to be one of the popular candle shops in the city. The shop owner Varsha Mehrotra said that she launches new designs during Deepawali every year so that the customers have new items to choose from.
This year, the Aipan candle and Mithai candle are eliciting considerable attention at her shop. The Aipan candle is based on the traditional Kumaoni folk art of Aipan. Traditional patterns are displayed on this candle depicting a glimpse of Uttarakhand’s folk culture. The Mithai candle appears like a real sweet and is made in the shapes of items like Ladoos, Barfi and Gulab Jamun, she added.
According to Mehrotra, every candle in her shop is handmade in Nainital which also show the hard work and creativity of the maker. The demand for aromatic candles, floating candles, gift hampers and themed candles increases during the Deepawali celebrations with tourists also buying these items in considerable quantities, she said.
When it comes to the price, the cost of these candles ranges from Rs 200 and increases according to the design and size while a gift hamper costs upto Rs 500 each. Even though the candles are considered to be a part of Nainital’s identity, the business has been impacted in recent years due to factors like online shopping sites and the price factor.
