Visit these community stores in Mumbai to stock up for this festive weekend

Kadboli, Sev Ladoos, Malvani Chiwda, and Kokum Crush

This week, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Cheti Chand roll in, Navroze follows, and Eid waits in anticipation of the crescent moon. Naturally, guests will be pouring into your living room to wish, celebrate, and snack. While you may have your pantry stocked up for the festive feast, are you sorted on snacks that come in handy anytime someone walks in to wish? Fear not, these
community specialty stores will come through.

Iranian Sweets Palace

Baklava

Open for roughly a fortnight around Navroze, this is a haven for all things rare. Hassan Irani, the owner, imports specialty items straight from Iran. Think: white mulberries, dried red berries, dried cherries, and even dried camel's milk cheese balls.

Owner Hassan Irani

Everything is packed tight and stored cold. Irani is also known for his wood-fired baklava, arguably one of the last of its kind in the city. This year, however, he has had to shift to using Indian dried fruits in the baklava, given the ongoing conflict in the West Asia.
AT Haroon Manzil, Imamwada Road, Bhendi Bazaar.
CALL 9870017847

Shankar Stores

(Clockwise from left) Kachri, Dried Drumstick Flowers; Onion Pickle; Aloo Papad Pic/Atul Kamble

Khar has a string of passaris (Sindhi grocers) who should sort you out. Known to Sindhis as Ochi Passari, this store is stocked with snacks such as Dried Drumstick Flowers, Briny Onion Pickle, Aloo Papad, Wadiyun (sun-dried dal dumplings for curries or pulav), Makhana, Kachri (rice flour fryums) - products you won't casually find elsewhere.
AT Ram Krishna Nagar, Khar West.
CALL 9820846117

Kokan Bazar

A slice of the Konkan, this shop sits below Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar. You will find staples for Gudi Padwa from the source. Its shelves are stocked with products from the Konkan. Think: Aam Panna Crush, Sev Ladoos, masalas and ready mixtures. But what makes this place click is the range. Need specific utensils for your Padwa meal? Done. Want small décor pieces to dress your home in the spirit of Konkan? Also done.
AT 15, Shiv Sena Bhavan, Dadar West.
CALL 9820238445

Fakhri Farsan Mart

If you don't want to elbow your way through iftar crowds at Bohri Mohalla, do the smarter thing, and stock up. Here, the mixes do the heavy lifting. You will get Afghan chiwda, Dubai mix, plus a whole shelf of roasted options. The likes of Broccoli Chips, Makhana, and Brown Rice Crisps line its shelves. Next door, Fakhri Sweets stocks traditional desserts.
AT Khara Tank Road, Block B, Bhendi Bazaar.
CALL 9967545306

In a pickle

An Ugadi feast is incomplete without a pickle spread at the table. While a range of Andhra-style pickles is rare around Mumbai, an old shop in Bandra Bazar can be trusted. Jaffson Pickles & Masala has ample goodies to go around, including meat and prawn pickles. You can also dial the shop, and have it delivered to your home across the city.
AT Rahat Manjil, Bazar Road, Bandra West.
CALL 9969649329