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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}

[[File:Ghantewala in Chandni Chowk, Delhi.jpg|thumb|Ghantewala in [[Chandni Chowk]], in Delhi]]
The '''Ghantewala Halwai''' (घंटेवाला हलवाई) in [[Chandni Chowk]] in [[Delhi]], established in 1790 CE was one of the oldest [[halwai]]s (traditional [[sweet shop]]) in India.<ref>''Rediscovering Delhi: The Story of Shahjahanabad'', by Maheshwar Dayal, "Feroze". Published by S. Chand, 1975</ref><ref name=hindu2002>{{cite news | url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/07/stories/2002110700040300.htm | title=The royal treat in Chandni Chowk | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | date=7 November 2002}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=FEAEN20070032547 top 10 "Food Wonderlands of the World."] [[NDTV]]</ref>

It has catered to [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Emperors, Presidents and [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Ministers of India]], from [[Nehru]] to his grandson [[Rajiv Gandhi]].<ref name=hindu2002/> Over the years, it has also remained a popular visitors attraction in [[Old Delhi]] area and known for its ''[[Sohan Halwa]].''<ref>[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/delhi/restaurants/sweets/ghantewala Ghantewala in Delhi] [[Lonely Planet]]</ref>

In July 2015, the shop closed down due to falling sales and legal issues with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
==History==
[[File:Sohan Halwa at Ghantewala in Chandni Chowk, Delhi.jpg|thumb|[[Sohan Halwa]] (top shelf) and other traditional [[Indian sweets]] at Ghantewala in Chandni Chowk]]
[[File:Shah Alam II, 1790s.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Emperor [[Shah Alam II]], (r. 1759 - 1806) during whose rule the shop was established and got its name]]

It was founded by Lala Sukh Lal [[Jain]] who had arrived in the walled city of Delhi from [[Amber, India]], a few years after [[Sindhia]] restored [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Alam II]] (r. 1759 - 1806). The shop was later run by his descendants for seven generations.

There are a couple of theories about how it got its name "Ghantewala".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000827/spectrum/main6.htm |title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Article |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=2000-08-27 |access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> According to one, it was so named by Mughal Emperor, [[Shah Alam II]] himself who asked his servants to get sweets from the ''ghante ki neeche wali dukaan'' (Shop below the bell) shop, which in time got shortened to simply Ghantewala. In those days the area was sparsely populated and the Emperor who used to live in the [[Red Fort]] could hear the toll of the bell for the school which was located in near the shop.<ref name=hindu2002/><ref>{{cite news |title=Chowk and cheese| url=http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2008/sep/280908-Features-Sweets-roza-Chandni-Chowk.htm |date=28 September 2008}}</ref><ref name=bistd2010/>

Another theory about how it was named "Ghantewala" is that the founder, Lala Sukh Lal Jain, used to walk from street from street for selling his sweets while ringing a bell to attract attention. As he grew popular, people started to call him "Ghantewala" - a Hindi language word for the bell-man. Later when he established a shop, he named it "Ghantewala".<ref name=bbc2015>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33639456|title=Ghantewala: Why did Delhi's 'oldest sweet shop' shut down?|date=24 July 2015|work=BBC|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref>

Ghantewala's sweets were already famous before the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]] (Ghadar).<ref name=Dal/> The newspaper, 'Dihli Urdu Akhbar' of 23 August 1857 reported about the rebels from other regions become softened after they discovered the luxuries of the royal capital:

<blockquote>..The moment they have a round of [[Chandni Chowk]] ... enjoy the sweetmeats of Ghantawala, they lose all urge to fight and kill the enemy.<ref name=Dal>W. Dalrymple, ''[[The Last Mughal]]'', 2006.</ref></blockquote>

The Lala began by selling [[Mishri]] [[Khoa|Mawa]], a Rajasthani specialty. In 2015, they had around 40 to 50 different varieties of sweets that they kept changing according to the season or festivals, according to Sushant Jain, who is a seventh generation descendant.<ref name=bistd2010>{{cite news |title=Sweet delights |url=http://www.business-standard.com/results/news/sweet-delights/413235/ |publisher=[[Business Standard]] |date=31 October 2010 }}</ref> The family split a few decades ago and another branch has a shop nearby the fountain. One shop is closed while another shop has changed its name as Ghantewala Confectioners run by a descendant, Nirmal Jain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why the 200-year-old taste shop won't budge|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-22/special-report/31382302_1_family-business-chandni-chowk-walled-city |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603143200/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-22/special-report/31382302_1_family-business-chandni-chowk-walled-city |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 June 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=22 April 2012 }}</ref> It is situated close to the [[Gali Paranthe Wali]] also in Chandni Chowk.

==Products==
According to the owner Sushant Jain, the '[[Sohan Halwa]]' was a favourite of patrons from as far away as the Gulf.<ref name=bistd2010/> [[barfi|Pista Burfi]] and perennial favourite like '[[laddo|motichoor ki ladoo]]', [[Kalakand]], [[Karachi]] [[halwa]] and snacks like ''makkan choora'' were also popular among the patrons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supersize me |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Supersize+me/1/2725.html |date=20 December 2007 |publisher=[[India Today]] }}</ref> Before closing down, it used to sell traditional [[Indian snacks]], like [[namkeen]], [[samosa]], [[kachori]] etc., besides festive sweets like [[gujiya]]s around [[Holi]].<ref name=bistd2010/> They also ventured into the e-commerce space by partnering with an online food retailing website [http://www.chandnichowkfood.com www.chandnichowkfood.com], which was however not successful.

==In popular culture==
When film producer [[B.R. Chopra]] made his comedy [[Hindi film]] ''[[Chandni Chowk (1954)|Chandni Chowk]]'' (1954), he made sure that a replica of the shop is included in his set. He said: "[[Chandni Chowk]] without Ghantewala? Unthinkable." Near the end of the movie, the dramatic finale occurs right in front of Ghantewala counter, with a sign in English and Urdu proclaiming the association of the shop with the Mughal emperors.<ref>Chandni Chowk 1954, B.R. Chopra producer, [https://www.google.com/search?q=Chandni+Chowk+1954&oq=Chandni+Chowk+1954&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=Chandni+Chowk+1954&tbm=vid scene at 1:58:13]</ref>

==Closing==
It was shut down in July 2015. There was widespread reaction to the closing. Indian Express stated: "Ghantewala, an over 200-year-old sweet shop in Old Delhi’s bustling Chandni Chowk market has finally downed its shutters, evoking shock and a sense of loss among food connosseirs, sweet lovers and other visitors."<ref>[http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/landmark-200-year-old-sweet-shop-ghantewala-in-old-delhi-shuts-down/ Landmark 200-year-old sweet shop Ghantewala in Old Delhi shuts down, Press Trust of India,2 July 2015]</ref> The Hindu wrote: "The scene outside and the disbelief on faces of those watching display units being sold as scrap even as they asked around about what had happened was reminiscent of a funeral service. For heritage lovers as well as fans of the shop, it was the death of one of the icons of the city — a living reminder of the past that still had a connect with the present generation."<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/after-225-years-gone-without-a-warning/article7377569.ece After 225 years, Delhi's sweet shop shuts down, Jaideep Deo Bhanj, The Hindu, JULY 2, 2015]</ref>

It was attributed to a change in the tastes (chocolate sales doubled to $857 million between 2008 and 2011<ref>[http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/07/25/oldest-sweet-shop-india A 225-Year-Old Sweet Shop Is Closing Because People Want to Eat Candy Bars, Liz Dwyer, 25 July 2015]</ref>) and legal and licensing issues.<ref name=bbc2015 /> The 39-year-old Sushant Jain, the seventh generation descendant of Lala Sukh Lal Jain, lamented: "I know I can't do it. This system has defeated me. I had to wind up Ghantewala. It was heartbreaking for my family. We cried the whole day. If anyone wants to take the franchise of Ghantewala, I am open to the idea".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/this-system-has-defeated-me-ghantewala-owner/story-6G2IQqaXOwRMFvmWlQoZXN.html | title=This system has defeated me: Ghantewala owner | newspaper=Hindustan Times | date=5 July 2015 | first=Neha | last=Pushkarna | access-date=31 August 2018 }}</ref> He further explained: "Our shop was sealed in 2000. I have been going to court hearings twice a month since then. It's been 15 years. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee wants us to move our workshop from our ancestral house to elsewhere. I don't have the financial resources or the strength to do it."
The present generation could not capitalise the brand value which has been generated both offline and online. BBC made a documentary on the shop.

==See also==
* [[Punjabi Chandu Halwai Karachiwala]], Mumbai
* [[K.C. Das Grandsons]], Kolkata
* [[Kesar Da Dhaba]], Amritsar
*[[Jabalpur#Khoye ki Jalebi|Badkul Mishtan Bhandar]], Japalpur

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline}}
*[http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/asia/chandnichowk.shtml For travelers]

{{Delhi}}
{{coord missing|Delhi}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Delhi]]
[[Category:Culture of Delhi]]
[[Category:Retail companies of India]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Delhi]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Confectionery companies of India]]
[[Category:Jain vegetarianism]]

[[pl:Chandni Chowk]]

Ghantewala - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 15:47, 16 April 2021