Be cautious when purchasing sweets for Karva Chauth, as you may end up with counterfeit ones.

Sweet Buying Tips: Be cautious before buying sweets for Karva Chauth. Fake and adulterated sweets are also being sold in the market, which can prove harmful to health. Here's how to spot them.

Today is Karva Chauth. This day is very special for women who believe in Hinduism. Married women observe a fast for the entire day without eating or drinking anything, and only eat or drink after seeing the moon at night.

On Karva Chauth, women adorn themselves and buy a variety of sweets for the puja. Shops are full of sweets like barfi, laddu, rasgulla, and milk cake. However, some shopkeepers, driven by the lure of higher profits, sell fake or adulterated sweets.

There are some easy ways to identify the authenticity of sweets that you can check from home. First, when buying sweets, check that their color is not too bright. If it appears excessively colored, take a piece and crush it. If the color sticks to your hands, it's a clear sign that synthetic coloring has been used in the sweet.

You can also test it by dipping a small piece of the sweet into water. If the color begins to dissolve, it's safe to avoid artificial coloring. It's best to avoid such sweets. A light taste can also help identify the difference.

If the taste is excessively sweet or slightly bitter, it could contain chemicals or adulterants. When purchasing sweets made with khoya, crush them between your fingers. If they feel rubbery or stretchy, it's a sign that they've been adulterated.

A genuine khoya sweet is soft and releases a milky essence when broken. Such small tests can help prevent you from falling prey to fake sweets. To avoid adulterated sweets, always shop from trusted stores.

Always check the manufacturing and expiration dates on packaged sweets. Before purchasing loose sweets, pay attention to the cleanliness of the shop and the condition of the sweets. Making sweets at home is the safest method. Sweets made with pure ghee, fresh milk, and pure sugar are not only delicious but also healthy.