SWEETMEATS OF BIHAR AND WEST-BENGAL IN INDIA - A STUDY IN-DIFFUSION

Sweetmeats not only constitute very important past in the Indian tradi tional dishes but also these are considered as the essential items in socio-religious performances. There are many events in the social sett ings in which sweetmeats play the indispensable roles. The sweetmeats of the different regions in this country have got specific traditions that have been patterned through the interactions of diversified cultu ral traits. An attempt has been made, in this study, to highlight the traditional perspectives of various sweetmeats that have been develope d at the different places in Bihar and West Bengal. The development pa ttern of various items of sweetmeats and their diffusion from one plac e to another have been analysed here through the categorical examinati on of a large number of traits.