India's beloved street food: Continued popularity of the pani puri dish

In the vibrant streets of India, a beloved snack has been captivating taste buds for centuries - Pani Puri. Originating from the ancient Magadha kingdom, now the north-eastern Indian state of Bihar, this iconic street food has since spread its zest across the country and beyond.

Known by various names such as golgappa, phuchka, and gupchup, Pani Puri is a crunchy, savoury delight that packs a punch of flavour in every bite. The spheres, called 'Puri', are typically stuffed with spiced potatoes, chickpeas, raw onions, and a variety of spices. The star of the show, however, is the flavoured watery dip that accompanies each Pani Puri, making each mouthful burst with zest.

The origins of Pani Puri can be traced back to the region of Maharashtra, specifically Mumbai and Pune. However, one popular tale from the epic story Mahabharata suggests that Draupadi invented Pani Puri to feed the five Pandava brothers with limited resources.

In recent years, Pani Puri has gained international acclaim and is enjoyed by Non-Resident Indian (NRI) communities in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia, and Australia. The snack even made its way to Hungary, where a group of students at a university in Budapest tasted Pani Puri for the first time in April 2025.

Pani Puri's global fame was further cemented when former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Japan's Ambassador to India, Hiroshi Suzuki, both savoured the snack during their visits to India. In a nod to its popularity, Google celebrated July 12 as "Pani Puri Day" in 2023, honouring a world record set by Indori Zyaka, a restaurant based in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, for serving 51 unique flavours of Pani Puri in 2015.

Street vendors have also embraced the need for improved hygiene practices, adopting measures such as wearing gloves and using clean utensils. Many regulated stalls and homemade versions prioritise safety by using filtered water and fresh ingredients, dispelling the stereotype that street vendor preparations of Pani Puri are unhygienic.

Pani Puri has also become a canvas for creative fusions, blending its traditional crunch with international flavours, such as Mexican-Indian and Italian-style Pani Puri. This fusion trend has been welcomed with open arms, adding a new layer of excitement to this beloved street snack.

Despite being often stereotyped as "a girl's snack" in India, Pani Puri is enjoyed by men as well. Its popularity continues to grow, making it a testament to India's diverse street foods and its ability to captivate taste buds around the world. In Minneapolis, USA, Curry Corner, an Indian-owned restaurant, offered free Pani puris in June 2024, an event that quickly went viral on Instagram.

As Pani Puri continues to make its mark on the global culinary scene, it serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and diversity that India offers. Whether enjoyed on the bustling streets of Mumbai or in the heart of Budapest, Pani Puri remains a symbol of India's culinary prowess and a favourite among food lovers everywhere.