States » EastPosted at: Nov 14 2026 10:56PM


Bengal: Rasogolla sweetens Children's Day, but leaves diabetics with a bitter choice

Siliguri, Nov 14 (UNI) Saturday brought together three very different observances. While children celebrated Children's Day across the country and health awareness campaigns marked World Diabetes Day, West Bengal's sweet-makers had their own occasion to celebrate — Banglar Rasogolla Dibas.
In Siliguri, hundreds joined the celebrations, but the overlap between the two observances also prompted a curious question: how do people celebrate a sugary Bengali delicacy on a day meant to highlight the health risks associated with diabetes?
The answer lies in history. On November 14, 2017, West Bengal received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its famous Banglar Rasogolla following a prolonged dispute with Odisha over the identity and origin of the sweet. Since then, this day has acquired special significance for the state's sweet-makers, who celebrate it as Banglar Rasogolla Dibas.
The coincidence with World Diabetes Day has made this celebration particularly interesting. While doctors and health-conscious people highlight the importance of controlling sugar consumption, sweet-makers have chosen the same day to promote Bengal's much-loved delicacy.
Paying little heed to the apparent contradiction, the Paschim Bango Mistanno Babosayi Samiti has decided to continue its annual celebration, with free distribution of rasogollas across the districts from next year.
In Siliguri, the Siliguri Sweets Shop Owners Association (SSSOA) organised a special programme at the Sevoke More three-point crossing, connecting Hill Cart Road. The association distributed more than 15,000 rasogollas free of cost among pedestrians and passers-by, with a target of reaching around 20,000 pieces.
Different varieties of the sweet, representing both traditional and modern styles of preparation, were presented. Children, elderly people and members of economically weaker sections were among those who gladly accepted the sweets. However, there was one notable absence from the celebration — sugar-free rasogolla. The organisers admitted that they had not been able to arrange such a variety.
The programme was not initially scheduled to be inaugurated by West Bengal Tourism Minister Dr Shankar Ghosh. However, following a request from members of the association, he attended the event and inaugurated the celebration by distributing rasogollas among pedestrians. Several people, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, expressed happiness at receiving the sweets.
One of them was Lalita Sarkar, who had come from Chamurchi in the Dooars. She gladly accepted the free rasogolla and expressed her happiness after tasting it. "Oh, nice! It's a very beautiful rasogolla," she said, capturing the simple joy that the distribution brought to many people.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ghosh highlighted the historical significance of the GI recognition and the need to promote Bengal's traditional food as part of its tourism potential.
"There is a history and a geography associated with the GI tag. After a prolonged tussle, West Bengal received the GI recognition for Banglar Rasogolla," he said.
The minister also said that the state Tourism Department was preparing a special roadmap to promote the distinctive food items of different districts as an important part of tourism.
"Our department is preparing a special plan to promote the speciality food of different districts of West Bengal, from the Darjeeling hills to the Sundarbans. We want tourists visiting different districts and regions to look for their speciality food. This will encourage people to visit those places and help promote local tourism," Dr Ghosh said.
He added that Banglar Rasogolla was one such speciality which deserved a distinct identity and recognition. The Tourism Department was also considering ways to give the sweet a special place in its promotional activities.
"Since Banglar Rasogolla Dibas is being symbolically celebrated in my city today, I am extremely happy to be associated with the occasion," he said.
General secretary of the Paschim Bango Mistanno Babosayi Samiti, Sanjit Banik, said the celebration was being organised in different districts every year and that the association had decided to take the initiative across West Bengal simultaneously this time.
"This programme is organised every year in different districts. This time, it is being held in Siliguri. We have decided to distribute rasogollas free of cost in every district of West Bengal on the same day to mark Banglar Rasogolla Dibas, as the state received the GI tag on November 14, 2017," he said.
Banik also raised the issue of the five per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on sweets. He appealed to the Centre, through the state government, to consider withdrawing the tax so that consumers could purchase rasogollas and other traditional sweets at more affordable prices.
SSSOA representative Pankaj Ghosh said the association had already distributed more than 15,000 rasogollas and was aiming to reach 20,000.
"We have nearly 250 members who manufacture rasogollas in different parts of Siliguri. We have presented different types of rasogolla today, but unfortunately, we could not arrange sugar-free rasogolla for the occasion," he said.
The coincidence with World Diabetes Day, however, did not escape the attention of the organisers. Banik maintained that while doctors advise diabetic patients to avoid sweets, they did not specifically prohibit rasogolla.
He claimed that the sweet could be enjoyed by people of all age groups, including diabetic patients, and also made claims about its benefits for energy and digestion.
Doctors generally advise people with diabetes to monitor their sugar intake and follow individual dietary recommendations.
For Bengalis, rasogolla is more than just another sweet. It has a special place in the state's food culture. A meal, whether lunch or dinner or a sumptuous feast, often feels incomplete to many Bengalis without a rasogolla at the end. Its soft texture and syrup-filled sweetness have made it a favourite across generations.
Saturday's celebration in Siliguri offered a glimpse of that emotional connection. People from different walks of life gathered around the distribution counters, while children were particularly delighted to receive the sweets on Children's Day.
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