Start with the spicy fried soft shell crab and juicy morsels of grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves.

BBC: Cheap ethnic eats in London

While some chains offer non-soda and fruit options, "soft drinks and fried potatoes are still more common options on children's menus, "' according to the report.

CNN: 'Obesity on the menu' for kids, group says

The most popular gift is mithai (Indian sweets), and shops are filled with a spectacular array specially prepared for this festival, from thickly cut squares of barfi (a fudge-like sweet, often coated with a thin film of edible silver leaf) , to soft syrupy gulab jamuns (deep-fried balls of dough) and spongy rasgullas (sweetened cream cheese balls flavoured with rose water).

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