Fact Check: Did Jaipur Sweet Shops Drop ‘Pak’ from Sweets Like Mysore Pak Amid India-Pakistan Tensions?

Claim:

Following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor, several Jaipur sweet shops have renamed traditional sweets like Mysore Pak by removing the word “Pak” to express patriotic solidarity.

Verdict: True, but lacks full context

Multiple news reports confirm that several Jaipur-based sweet shops, including Tyohaar Sweets, Bombay Misthan Bhandar, and Agarwal Caterers, have voluntarily renamed sweets traditionally containing the word “Pak”—like Mysore Pak, Gond Pak, and Moti Pak. These shops replaced “Pak” with alternatives like “Shree” and “Bharat”, citing national pride after the recent military operations and terror incidents.

However, linguistic and cultural experts have clarified that the term “Pak” has no relation to Pakistan, but originates from Sanskrit and Kannada culinary terminology.

What Are the Facts?

➤ Sweet Rebranding Confirmed

• Jaipur’s Tyohaar Sweets led the initiative by renaming several sweets:
  • Gond Pak → Gond Shree
  • Moti Pak → Moti Shree
  • Swarn Bhasm Pak → Swarn Shree
  • Chandi Bhasm Pak → Chandi Shree
• Other sweetmakers like Bombay Misthan Bhandar and Agarwal Caterers echoed the sentiment, calling it a “symbolic cultural response” to national security concerns.

➤ Not Related to Pakistan

• Experts like Abhishek Avtans, linguist at Leiden University, pointed out that the term “Pak” comes from:
  • Sanskrit “pakva”, meaning “cooked” or “ripe”
  • Kannada “paka”, referring to a sugar syrup or cooked sweet preparation
• Mysore Pak originated in Karnataka’s royal kitchens during King Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV’s reign—long before the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Linguistic Confusion and Viral Misinterpretation

While the rebranding move was meant to display patriotism, it also sparked misinformation online. Some viral posts and memes wrongly associated the word “Pak” with Pakistan, calling for nationwide name changes of sweets.

However, the use of “Pak” in Indian sweets predates any political association. Critics argue that rebranding based on misunderstood etymology dilutes India’s rich culinary heritage.

Conclusion:

Verdict: True, but misleading if historical context is ignored

True — Yes, some Jaipur sweet shops have dropped “Pak” from sweet names like Mysore Pak in response to rising nationalism.
But — The word “Pak” in Indian sweets has no connection to Pakistan. It’s rooted in Indian culinary language and tradition.

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