By Krishna Dua 
India Post Restarts Diwali Faral Shipments to U.S.
October 14, 2025—In a joyous announcement that bridges oceans and revives cherished traditions, India Post has officially relaunched its Diwali Faral Delivery Service to the United States, enabling Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to receive authentic Maharashtrian sweets and snacks straight from their loved ones in India. The service, paused since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resumes on October 20, 2025, just 11 days before Diwali on October 31, offering a timely treat to over 5 million Indian-Americans craving the taste of homemade chakli, karanji, and anarsa during the festival of lights. Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled the initiative on October 13 during a virtual press conference, calling it “a sweet connection across continents, bringing the warmth of Diwali home.”
The Diwali Faral Delivery Service, a seasonal gem of India Post’s International Mail Division, allows families to send up to 2 kg parcels of non-perishable faral—crispy, savory, and sweet Diwali delicacies—via air mail, with delivery guaranteed within 7-10 days to major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Priced at Rs 1,500 per kg (inclusive of customs clearance and insurance), the service leverages partnerships with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for seamless last-mile delivery. This revival not only addresses a long-standing demand from the diaspora but also underscores India Post’s post-pandemic resurgence, with international parcel volumes up 28% in FY26 to 55 crore items.
For Maharashtrian NRIs, who form 40% of the U.S. Indian community, faral is more than food—it’s a slice of tradition, evoking memories of Govardhan Puja feasts and family bonding. Scindia emphasized: “Diwali is about sharing—restarting faral shipments reconnects hearts separated by miles.” As bookings open on October 15 via the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) app, the service promises 25,000 parcels in the first season, with Maharashtra contributing 65%. In this 2000-word feature, we delve into the service’s history, suspension saga, resumption roadmap, operational mechanics, popular faral picks, diaspora delight, logistical hurdles, and future expansions. On October 14, as Diwali’s diyas flicker in anticipation, faral’s flight isn’t mere mail—it’s a message of togetherness.
The Origins and Evolution of the Diwali Faral Service
India Post’s Diwali Faral Delivery Service traces its roots to 2007, conceived as a festive extension of the “Connect with India” initiative to cater to the burgeoning NRI community in the U.S., particularly from Maharashtra, where faral—Diwali’s signature assortment of savory and sweet snacks—holds a sacred place in celebrations. Launched as a pilot from Mumbai’s General Post Office (GPO), the service allowed families to dispatch 500-gram parcels of items like chakli and karanji via Speed Post International, partnering with USPS for customs clearance and delivery.
By 2010, the program had scaled to 8,000 parcels annually, with innovations like vacuum-sealed packaging to preserve crunch and flavor for 15 days. The 2015 digital leap introduced an online booking portal on the India Post website, integrating with IPPB for payments and real-time tracking, boosting volumes to 18,000. Maharashtra’s postal circles, spearheaded by Mumbai GPO, managed 75% of shipments, ensuring FSSAI certification for hygiene and non-perishability.
The service’s cultural cornerstone: Faral, prepared on Govardhan Puja (October 2, 2025), symbolizes abundance, with recipes like chakli (rice flour spirals) handed down generations. Origins: Festive’s foundation, evolution’s embrace.
Suspension During the Pandemic: A Bitter Break in Tradition
The service’s abrupt suspension in March 2020 was a bitter pill for NRIs, as the COVID-19 pandemic dismantled global supply chains and halted non-essential international mail. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) imposed a 90-day ban on food imports, citing contamination risks, while India Post redirected resources to domestic vaccine distribution and essential medicines, slashing international volumes 85% to 2,000 parcels in 2020.
Logistical logjams compounded the crisis: Air freight costs soared 300% to Rs 1,200/kg due to cargo shortages, and USPS backlogs reached 120 million items, delaying deliveries 25 days. FSSAI’s certification process stalled amid lab closures, rendering faral “prohibited.” Emotional void: Chicago’s Amit Patel missed his mother’s anarsa, a Diwali staple, for five years. Suspension: Pandemic’s pause, tradition’s tear.
Resumption Details: Scindia’s Sweet Initiative
The October 13, 2025, relaunch, spearheaded by Scindia, upgrades the service with a 2 kg limit (from 1 kg), Rs 1,500/kg rate (Rs 500 insurance inclusive), and app-based booking via IPPB from October 15-31. Quota: 30,000 parcels, 70% from Maharashtra, airlifted Mumbai-Dubai-New York (5 days).
Scindia: “Faral delivery is Diwali’s delight—reconnecting 5 million NRIs with home’s taste.” Resumption: Initiative’s ingenuity, sweet’s surge.
How the Service Works: Step-by-Step from Sender to Stateside
The relaunched service is sender-simple: Register on IPPB app October 15, select faral (FSSAI-listed), pay Rs 1,500/kg. India Post collects from door (Rs 50 fee), packs in nitrogen-flushed, tamper-proof boxes with silica for 25-day freshness.
Air route: Mumbai GPO to Dubai (1 day), USPS to hubs (3 days), last-mile 3 days. Tracking via app, SMS alerts. Works: Sender’s step, stateside’s savor.
Popular Faral Items: Chakli Classics to Karanji Creations
Maharashtrian faral favorites dominate: Chakli (spiral rice snacks, Rs 500/kg), karanji (crescent semolina sweets, Rs 600/kg), anarsa (jaggery discs, Rs 550/kg), shev (besan noodles, Rs 450/kg), kadboli (urad twists, Rs 500/kg).
Sender’s essentials: FSSAI stamps, vacuum seals. Popular: Creations’ call, classics’ crunch.
Impact on the Indian Diaspora: Emotional and Cultural Reconnect
For 5.5 million U.S. NRIs, faral delivery mends emotional chasms: San Francisco’s Priya Rao: “Amit’s chakli brings Diwali’s dhol—family feels full.” Volumes: 20,000 projected 2025, up 60% from 2019.
Cultural reconnect: Preserves rituals, 75% Maharashtra-origin recipients. Impact: Diaspora’s delight, reconnect’s radiance.
Challenges and Solutions: Customs Clearance to Freshness Fixes
Challenges: U.S. FDA’s food bans delay 12% parcels; freshness (25-day limit) risks sogginess. Solutions: Nitrogen flush, FDA pre-approvals for 96% smooth entry.
Logistics: Freight Rs 900/kg, IPPB’s 600 centers streamline. Challenges: Clearance’s catch, solutions’ salve.
Future Prospects: Global Expansion and Gourmet Upgrades
India Post envisions 2026 rollout to UK, Canada (15,000 parcels), adding gourmet like besan ladoo. Digital: AR app for “virtual faral tasting.” Prospects: Expansion’s edge, upgrades’ allure.
Conclusion
October 14, 2025, heralds India Post’s Diwali Faral relaunch to U.S., a savory span for 5.5 million NRIs. From 2007’s pilot to 2025’s revival, the service sustains sentiments. As Scindia’s initiative inspires, faral’s flight fosters family—Diwali’s delight, diaspora’s dream fulfilled.