New Delhi: India is known for its array of street foods which is usually a delight for food lovers. The street foods represent the different culture of the many regions in this country and they come in varied tastes. One of the most popular street foods in India is Pani Puri and it is enjoyed by millions of people every day, usually in the evening as snacks. Pani Puri has many names and identities in India and it is interesting to note that it even has a connection with the Mahabharata. Yes, you have read that right. But how? Read on to find more.
Pani Puri: A delicious snack with an interesting history
Pani Puri needs no introduction, but still if we have to define it, we can say that it is a deep-fried breaded hollow spherical shell which if filled with potatoes, spices, raw onions and chickpeas and if often prepared with chili powder and chaat masala. As per Kurush Dalal, a culinary anthropologist, the origin of chaat can be traced back to North India, especially Bihar. He opined that Pani Puri probably came from Raj-Kachori which was a smaller puri made accidentally. In the 20th century, due to the migration of people throughout the country, Pani Puri became popular.
Pani Puri and the Mahabharata connection
An early form of Pani Puri existed in the powerful historic kingdom of Magadha and it was known as ‘Phulki’. It was a smaller, crispier puri which was much like today’s Pani Puri. However, the link between the Pani Puri and the Mahabharata is unknown to many and it said that the chaat originated due to Draupadi.
According to a legend, after Draupadi returned home following his marriage with the five Pandavas, Kunti, her mother-in-law gave her a task. Since the Pandavas lived in exile then, their resources for food was always scarce. Kunti wanted to test Draupadi and threw her a challenge.
Kunti asked Draupadi to prepare food out of scratch and gave her some leftover vegetables and wheat flour. Draupadi lived up to her reputation of an intelligent woman and prepared a tangy water, a spicy filling and some small puris. As per the legend, it delighted Kunti who blessed the food with the boon of immortality and it considered to be the birth of Pani Puri.
Pani Puri is one of the most snacks or chaats in India which is loved and enjoyed by millions of people every day. While it is not known how exactly Pani Puri originated, the snack has an interesting connecting with the epic Mahabharata. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
