Every year when Diwali arrives, homes across Pune light up — not just with diyas and lanterns, but with the laughter of family, the aroma of freshly roasted faral, and the joy of giving. For over eight decades, Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda has been at the heart of these moments. From Bhawani Peth’s narrow lanes to homes around the world, the taste of Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda has travelled with every celebration, carrying with it the warmth of Pune’s spirit.
This year, the brand that defined festive snacking adds a new dimension to gifting — Custom Chiwda Hampers, an in-store experience that lets you build your own box of happiness. It is a tribute to tradition, designed for a generation that still believes the best gifts are the ones chosen with heart.
A Legacy that Began with a Handcart
The story of Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda is inseparable from the story of its founder, Shri Laxminarayanji Data, whose courage and conviction shaped a legacy.
In 1930, he began selling snacks on a handcart at the Rewari railway station in Haryana. When a confrontation with a British officer forced him to leave his hometown, his journey took him across Kabul, Rangoon, Calcutta, and Mumbai before he finally settled in Pune.
There, he married a Maharashtrian woman, began selling ice cream on a handcart, and quickly became known to locals as “Mamaji.” His philosophy was simple — no customer should leave disappointed. In 1945, he obtained his handcart license; by 1947, he opened his first shop in Bhawani Peth; and by 1949, he had trademarked his creation as “Laxminarayan Best Chiwda.”
That same philosophy of quality, care, and community lives on today through the fourth generation of the family. In 1988, his son Babulalji Data modernized production and introduced the iconic red packaging that still symbolizes consistency and trust. In 2022, the brand reintroduced itself as Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda, paying homage to Babulalji’s legacy and creating a mascot that reflects the warmth of its people.
From a handcart in pre-independence India to a global brand loved in the US, UK, New Zealand, Israel, and the Gulf, this story is not just about a snack — it is about resilience, innovation, and a family’s bond with Pune.
Gifting: The Soul of Diwali
Diwali has always been about exchange — of light, of kindness, and of gifts that carry emotion. Historical texts such as the Skanda Purana describe annadan — the offering of food — as a sacred act during this festival. Even today, food remains at the center of gifting.
A 2024 FICCI report found that nearly 80 percent of Indian households include food or sweets in their Diwali gifts. Another Deloitte Festive Insights study (2024) revealed that 68 percent of urban consumers now prefer personalized gifts to standard ones. These numbers reaffirm something Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda has always believed — the best gifts are the ones that feel personal, the ones that connect.
Bringing Personalization to Tradition
The new Custom Chiwda Hampers bring this timeless philosophy into today’s world. Available exclusively in-store across Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda outlets in Pune, the experience lets customers walk in and create their own festive box.
At the store, visitors can select from a curated range of Babus favourites — from Cornflakes Chiwda, Poha Chiwda, Patal Poha Chiwda, Potato Chiwda, Lite Chiwda, Badam Chiwda, Mix Farsan, Sabudana Flakes Chiwda, to sweet companions like Kaju Katli or Shankarpali. Each choice is carefully packed by hand in a premium gold-and-maroon box, reflecting the same attention to detail that defined the brand since 1945.
It is an experience that feels personal — whether you’re choosing lighter snacks for elders, spicier ones for friends, or a sweet-and-savoury mix for the whole family. The store team helps every customer curate combinations that suit their taste, ensuring freshness, balance, and presentation.
This customization isn’t about indulgence; it is about intent — about taking the time to choose something that says, “I remembered you.”
A Heritage of Handcrafted Quality
Behind every Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda hamper lies the same dedication to craftsmanship that began on that handcart in Rewari. The poha is sourced from Nashik’s premium grain farms, roasted in small batches, and seasoned with in-house ground spices to maintain balance and aroma.
The original recipes created by Laxminarayanji remain untouched, but the methods have evolved. His son Babulalji introduced mechanization — coconut slicers and mixing machines that still operate today — ensuring consistency without losing authenticity.
This blend of heritage and innovation has helped Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda serve over five million customers annually, especially during festive months. Yet, every packet still carries the same Puneri soul: trust, simplicity, and warmth.
The Meaning of a Custom Hamper
A custom hamper is not a new concept, but it takes on deeper meaning when it comes from a brand like Babus. In Pune, where gifting food is as natural as lighting diyas, being able to create your own box adds emotion to the act. It transforms gifting from transaction to tradition.
A custom hamper allows people to blend generations — perhaps including Poha Chiwda, which their grandparents loved, with Cornflakes Chiwda, which their children prefer. Add a Kaju Katli for sweetness, and suddenly a simple box becomes a reflection of family itself — varied, balanced, and beautifully connected.
At Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda stores, this experience is tangible. You can smell the roasted poha, feel the warmth of the packaging, and see your box come together. It’s not just shopping; it’s participation — in a process that began 80 years ago and still thrives on human connection.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility
True to its heritage, Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda’s innovation is always rooted in responsibility. In 2022, the brand transitioned to recyclable paperboard packaging, reducing plastic use by 25 percent. Every gift box — whether classic or customized — is designed to be reusable and environmentally mindful.
Equally important is the community behind the brand. Nearly 60 percent of its workforce consists of women from local Pune neighborhoods, many of whom are second-generation workers continuing their mothers’ craft. Each hamper, therefore, is not only a symbol of festive joy but also of empowerment and continuity.
The Taste of Togetherness
The Custom Chiwda Hamper is more than a product. It is a reminder of what Diwali stands for — togetherness, gratitude, and sharing what we love most. In an era where so much happens online, Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda brings people back to the in-store experience, to real interaction, to the joy of choosing by hand.
It’s an opportunity to build something that speaks your story: the familiar taste of Poha Chiwda, the golden crisp of Cornflakes, the fine texture of Patal Poha, and the comforting sweetness of Kaju Katli.
Because when you choose your own flavours, you aren’t just gifting food — you’re gifting thought, care, and a slice of Pune’s heritage that has touched hearts for generations.
A Legacy That Keeps Giving
From Laxminarayanji’s handcart at Rewari station to shelves in global supermarkets, the journey of Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda is one of courage, consistency, and community. Every new chapter — the red packet of 1988, the mascot of 2022, or today’s in-store custom hampers — has stayed true to that founding belief: no customer should leave disappointed.
So this Diwali, walk into a Babus Laxminarayan Best Chiwda store and build a box that carries more than flavours — it carries legacy. Pick the combinations that reflect your story, and share them with those who make your celebration complete.
Because happiness, after all, tastes best when it’s made your way.
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