India, Nov. 3 -- The 'festival of light', Diwali, is synonymous with gifting sweets. Sweet hampers are common around this time, and they are prepared for friends and family as auspicious symbols of prosperity and good fortune. The Indian sweet landscape has a wide variety of options, beyond the familiar favourites.ALSO READ: Make your home Diwali-ready: 5 fire safety checks to add to your festive checklist

But a generic sweet box won't cut it if you are trying to be mindful about your choices. If you are planning to shop for sweets, you need to be careful about which ones you choose, as different sweets have different storage needs and shelf lives.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Umesh Kumar Agarwal, director, Haldiram Marketing Pvt....