Decorative Packaging Box – “Pooja Sweets & Savouries”

Decorative Packaging Box – “Pooja Sweets & Savouries”. 2003.

This small rectangular box, adorned with vivid red rose motifs, was used for packaging goods sold at Pooja Sweets & Savouries, a shop located in Tooting. The box itself was manufactured in Lahore, Pakistan.

The word “Pooja” (also spelled Puja and meaning worship) and the candle illustration suggest a connection to Hindu devotional practices. The floral design reflects traditional South Asian aesthetics, while the use of printed cardboard highlights the shift toward disposable, mass-produced packaging in the 20th Century.

This box offers insight into the intersection of ritual, commerce, and diaspora identity in contemporary Britain.

The donor Mrs Salim was interviewed for the oral history project and donated the boxes for use in an exhibition in Autumn 2003.