Behind The Tradition Of Silver And Gold Vark On Indian Sweets | Food News

Discover the rich history and meaning behind the silver foil, or vark, that decorates Indian sweets — a symbol of purity, celebration, and royal heritage.

Step into an Indian sweet shop during the festive season, and you’ll feel it instantly that quiet magic shimmering behind the glass counters. Rows of kaju katli, barfi, and laddoos glisten under delicate sheets of silver so fine they almost float on air. What seems like pure ornamentation is, in truth, a centuries-old symbol of art, healing, and divinity. This glittering layer is vark, India’s edible gold and silver foil, a tradition that tells stories of emperors, Ayurveda, and devotion.

A Craft Forged in Metal and Memory

Vark, made from pure gold or silver, is created by hammering tiny pieces of metal into whisper-thin sheets. Traditionally, artisans would place small fragments of silver between layers of parchment and beat them repeatedly until they became almost weightless. These gossamer foils were then carefully lifted and placed over sweets.

In older times, the parchment was made using animal intestines, a practice that raised ethical concerns among Jain and vegetarian communities. Today, most artisans use plant-based or synthetic alternatives, preserving both the craft and its moral integrity. Cities like Jaipur, Varanasi, and Lucknow remain strongholds of this intricate tradition, where skilled craftsmen still hand-hammer vark in small, family-run workshops.

From Mughal Courts to Mithai Counters

The use of edible metals in India can be traced back to the opulent kitchens of the Mughal emperors, where food was not just sustenance but spectacle. Inspired by Persian traditions, the Mughals perfected the art of gilded delicacies transforming simple confections into royal experiences.

Over time, this symbol of luxury found its way into everyday Indian households. Silver-topped sweets became tokens of celebration small pieces of royalty shared across generations. Historians note that “vark turned every festival into a performance, a quiet inheritance of Mughal grandeur.”

Ayurveda and the Alchemy of Precious Metals

Long before its imperial association, vark had roots in Ayurveda, where gold and silver were valued for their medicinal properties.

Silver was believed to cool the body, fight inflammation, and purify the blood.

Gold was linked to strength, longevity, and vitality.

Compounds like Swarna Bhasma (powdered gold) were prescribed for joint pain, fatigue, and nervous disorders. The idea was simple yet profound — food should heal as much as it delights.

Faith, Purity, and Divine Offering

Beyond aesthetics, vark holds deep spiritual significance. The silver sheen symbolizes light, purity, and generosity; gold represents the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and abundance. During Diwali, Janmashtami, and Eid, vark-covered sweets are offered to deities as prasad not for taste, but for intent.

In Jain temples, silver foil is used to adorn idols and sacred spaces, embodying devotion and reverence. To offer something precious even in metallic shimmer is to express gratitude to the divine.

A Modern Symbol of Luxury and Celebration

Today, vark continues to dazzle across India, its meaning evolving, yet unchanged at heart. Sweet shops still price vark-covered mithai higher, marking them as premium offerings. At weddings and festivals, such sweets symbolize respect, prosperity, and the desire to share joy.

Contemporary chefs, too, have embraced vark as a creative accent. It gleams atop fusion desserts, adorns cocktails in luxury bars, and still crowns mithai boxes gifted during festive seasons. Whether used in a royal kitchen or a modern patisserie, vark speaks a timeless language, one of beauty, prosperity, and celebration.