Page 20 - Masala Lite Issue 190 October 2026

20 MASALA RECOMMENDS
SHUBH

SHOPPING

From festive looks to thoughtful gifts,
discover where to do your Diwali shop

in Phahurat.

BY APOORVA MAHAJAN & ISHAANI BUDHRAJA

t’s that time of year again. Rows and rows of houses are clearing out
old piles of hoarding, dusting every nook and cranny of their homes,
and hanging garlands of flowers (either real or fake) while stringing
LED lights—whether they are the traditional multicolour of green,
red, and blue or the more VSCO-style twinkling warm lights. In case
you couldn’t tell, we’re talking about Diwali. If Songkran is the Thai New
Year, then Diwali is the Indian New Year.
It is also an excuse to get dolled up, purchase brand new outfits, delivered
straight from some cousin who has just returned from India, and hop from
Diwali party to party while sampling all the best mithais from each host. But before all of that, you have to make sure your own
house is ready to welcome guests. Maybe a blurry memory now the older we get but there was a time travelling to Phahurat was an
essential part of Diwali shopping. From murtis and puja samagri, to mithai and flowers, “Little India” was (and still is) the one-stop
shop for Diwali preparations.
This October, with plenty of time to spare, Masala is dusting off some of those
old memories with a guide to shopping in Phahurat (and the neighbouring Flower
Market, Pak Khlong Talat) for all your Diwali needs.

SACRED TREASURES (Puja Samagri)

Diwali centers on welcoming warmth and prosperity into the home, with the sacred
puja honoring Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha at its heart. Authentic puja samagri
is essential to these meaningful rituals. From brass diyas that kindle divine light to
pure camphor, fragrant agarbatti, and sacred powders like kumkum and sindoor used
to invite blessings into your space.
Located on Chakkraphet Road in Phahurat, Air & Raju is a beloved, long-standing staple
for the local Indian community. Popular for its vast selection of imported groceries, it
is equally a go-to sanctuary for festive preparations, offering a full range of brassware,
wicks, idol attire, and havan supplies to ensure your Diwali setup is complete.

BLOOMS & GARLANDS (Flowers)

Pak Khlong Talat is Bangkok’s legendary 24-hour flower market, an extraordinary late-
night cultural spot and the ultimate destination for Diwali supplies. Situated along
the Chao Phraya River on Chakkraphet Road, it is just a short walk from Exit 1 of the
Sanam Chai MRT station (Blue Line). The market is a sensory paradise, overflowing
with ice-packed crates of imported roses, delicate orchids, lotus blooms, and radiant
marigold garlands—the essential centerpiece for Diwali celebrations.

EXTRA SWEET (Mithai)

Everyone knows that Diwali calories don’t count. How can they when every party you
attend, every box that is delivered to your house from a family member, a friend, or
a friend of a friend contains sweet, sugary, ghee-soaked goodness? These days, it is
easy to pick up boxes from Saras or put in an order with Marigold by Chef Garima,
perfectly packaged and seamlessly delivered, but there was once a time… If you are in
the throes of pre-Diwali shopping at Phahurat, we suggest heading to Punjab Sweets.
Tucked away further down the “Little India” alley on Chakkraphet Road, Punjab Sweets
is one of the OGs of Indian sweet shopping in Bangkok. Growing up, we’re more than
certain you had a couple of the iconic white boxes with the red lettering of PUNJAB
SWEETS in your refrigerator meant to be slowly demolished in the days after Diwali.
Fair warning: It tends to be pretty crowded in the week leading up to Diwali celebrations
so be prepared to squeeze your way through crowds, shout over the din to get your
order packaged, and grab the last of the fresh motichoor laddoos otherwise someone
else will. Our recommendation? Don’t skip out on the kaju katli.
MASALA LITE ISSUE 190 - OCTOBER 202 6