India, Nov. 5 -- A citizens' group from Pune and Mumbai has sent homemade Diwali faral (festive snacks) to Indian soldiers deployed along the country's borders, bringing a touch of festive warmth to personnel stationed thousands of kilometres away from their families. Traditional Maharashtrian delicacies such as chivda, chakli, ladoo and shankarpali were prepared and packed into boxes by citizens; and sent to soldiers serving in border regions including Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

The initiative has been undertaken for nearly 20 years by members of the Anamprem citizens' group, who come together every year to prepare the snacks with their own hands. The faral is packed into boxes and dispatc...