A blend of ethnic and street food is set to satiate the taste buds at the stalls near puja pandals this Durga Puja. Food is something which is treated as a culture among the people of the city making it a major ingredient of the Durga Puja.
Ethnic food items like Chilla, litti and Chola Bhatura will be seen giving a tough competition to street foods like Chowmein, Bhelpuri and Golgappa. In sweets Gulab Jamun will be competing with Balusahi.
“I have been setting up my stall near Bakri Bazaar puja pandal for last 10 years and have always received a good crowd,” said Dukhan Prasad Keshri, a Bhelpuri seller.
Ethnic food items seem to have lost the race to street food when seen in respect of popularity and sale. But, these food items have remained popular among certain age group and are trying to gain popularity among youth.
“My father started selling littis in 1956 and I am continuing the tradition till now. We receive customers of every age group and now the new generation is also getting attracted towards this traditional food item,” said Bhola Kewat, the owner of a litti stall.
Hawa Mithai (Air Candy) and Popcorn can also be seen among the food stalls at Bakri Bazaar trying to catch the attention of the children. “These Air Candies are loved by the people of every age group but, children are especially drawn towards it,” said Pintu Kumar, the owner of the Air Candy stall.
With these tasty and attractive food items at the food stalls, good hygiene will remain a big question. The puja committees are claiming that measures have been taken to maintain hygiene at the stalls in the pandal premises.
“We treat the people of the city as our family members and are devoted to provide them hygienic food at the stalls in the premises of our pandal. Special care is being taken to maintain cleanliness in the padal premises,” said Madan Bagadiye, Secretary, Bhartiya Yuvak Sangh, Bakri Bazaar.
With all the food items mentioned above one cannot miss the quick bite of an Ice-cream, something that most of the people prefer eating after the main course, especially in the festive season but, rain will be the trump card this Durga Puja.