Pani Puri, also known as gol gappa, puchka, or fuchka, is a popular street food in India. It is a bite-sized crispy shell filled with a mixture of potatoes, chickpeas, spices, and flavored waters. The origins of Pani Puri can be traced back to the time of the Mahabharata, according to legend.
During the time of the Mahabharata, Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, was faced with the challenge of satisfying the hunger of her five husbands who were living in exile with limited resources. Draupadi's mother-in-law, Kunti, advised her to use leftover aloo sabzi (potato curry) and wheat dough to create something that would satiate their hunger. Draupadi came up with the idea of making small, bite-sized puris and filling them with the potato curry. This innovative dish became known as Pani Puri.
Since then, Pani Puri has evolved and gained popularity throughout India, with regional variations in its preparation and flavors. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Pani Puri is typically served with boiled chickpeas, white pea mixture, and sprouts, accompanied by spicy pani (flavored water). In North Indian states like Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and New Delhi, gol gappa is filled with potato and chickpeas, and served with jaljeera-flavored pani. In West Bengal and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, the street food is called puchkas or fuchkas and is known for its tamarind pulp-based filling.
Google celebrated the popularity of Pani Puri by creating a special interactive game Doodle that allows users to help a street vendor fulfill Pani Puri orders by choosing different flavors and quantities based on customer preferences. It's a fun way to engage with the cultural significance of this beloved street food.
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