It is festival time in Kolkata with Navratri and Durga Puja

West Bengal and its capital Kolkata are famous for the large-scale, opulent pujas. The organizers work night and day to present artistic creations that attract people from not just different parts of Bengal and from all over the country, but even globally. This has been made possible because of the recognition accorded by UNESCO in 2021. It has granted recognition in the form of Heritage Status to 'Durga Puja in Kolkata.' This is inscribed in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Those who plan a trip to Kolkata during the festival can expect memorable experiences of gorging on yummy food, praying to Goddess Durga, pandal hopping, and loving every bit of the festivities. These are what Durga puja is all about. Eat, pray, love! 5 things to do while visiting Kolkata during Durga Puja 2022; visit THESE top 20 pandals. It has to be remembered that pandal hopping translates into crowds and hot and humid surroundings. It is better to wear comfortable footwear because you might have to walk long distances and remain in queue for a long time to get a darshan of the idols and the magnificent pandals.

There is a craze among some people to visit 'Bonedi bari' puja. These are family pujas dating back to centuries and involve aristocratic households. There is no commercialization and they do not go in for glamor and glitz of the baroyari pujas. The number of such families is few and the uniqueness is that on this annual festival, members of the family come together from far corners of the world. These turn out to be unforgettable homecomings. Of course, food lovers enjoy street foods, sweets and eating out at the city's famous restaurants. From fuchka (or the gol gappa or pani puri) to jhal muri (puffed rice with special spices) and the famous Kolkata roll – the list is a long one. In many restaurants, food lovers may have to wait in queues for their turn.

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Bengalis of Kolkata love mouthwatering dishes and Khaibaar Pass helps them choose the best

TV reality shows, social media and food festivals like Khaibaar Pass have helped give an impetus to the culinary scene in Kolkata. Hotels and restaurants go all out to woo the food lovers with exotic dishes and food festivals keep creating new varieties of well-known products. Fuchka is a household name in Bengal and is known as golguppa in other places. These fall in the category of cheap fast foods. However, in Khaibaar Pass this has multiple varieties like chicken fuchka, ice cream fuchka, chocolate fuchka – the price range is several times more than that in the roadside stalls. ABP Ananda is a major media house in Bengal. It arranges an annual three-day food festival ‘Khaibaar Paas.’ This is where foodies arrive to taste unique culinary dishes from restaurants and food outlets in Bengal. The 8th edition of this food festival took in the city in March, 2022. ABP Ananda launches Khaibaar Paas food festival.

At this festival, those who love food can sample delicacies from innumerable food stalls and sees thousands of footfalls every day. The festival offers business opportunity to all those involved in the world of food and includes restaurants and food joints. There are major well-known brands who sponsor the event. Products include Biryanis, Kebabs, traditional Bengali dishes, sea food, sweets and snackable items to Mughlai, to Chinese and Lebanese dishes. In addition, there are fun games to maintain the festive mood. As an official of the network said - “Khaibaar Paas has been able to carve out a niche for itself in the Bengali food space.”

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Jilebi and Vada-pau make it to a list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia

Street foods have become the norms in any country. The world today has much to offer and one of these is the mouthwatering street foods. Those who operate these joints try their utmost to promote the cuisine unique to their own country. These could be in the raw or fried, baked, or even refrigerated. A list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia shows jilebi and vada pav as favorites of India. For our neighbor Pakistan, it is falooda and for Bangladesh, it is fuchka. Both are favorites of India also.

Jilebi is a sweet and people in Kolkata and Bengal love to take it as a part of breakfast. It is easy to make and cheap. Obviously, there are many takers and a combination of kachuri and jilebi is always on the cards for the common man. Kachuri is also very popular and ovens begin making these items even before the day breaks. Customers literally queue up to share the hot kachuris with a few jilebi. In Maharashtra, jilebis do not find a place at breakfast but are a welcome treat later in the day. They also appear during marriage feasts.

Vada pav is an Indian version of the burger and is popular in Mumbai. The outer portion is a bread-like casing stuffed with a mixture of mashed potato, onion, chilly, chopped coriander leaves and spices. The mixture is made into balls. These are then dipped in a batter of besan (powdered gram) and are deep-fried. Each of these balls is then stuffed into the bread (better known as pav) and then served.

Other street foods country wise (alphabetically) are –

Bangladesh – Fuchka
Bhutan - Ema datshi
Brunei - Kuih cincin
Cambodia - Lort cha
China - Jianbing, Jiaozi, Laping, Tibet, Rou jia mo, Xiao long bao
Hong Kong - Cheong fun, Curry fish balls, Egg waffles
Indonesia - Gado gado, Getuk, Kerak telor
Japan - Sofuto kurimu, Takoyaki, Yakitori
Laos - Khao jee, Nam khao
Malaysia - Asam laksa, Nasi lemak, Rojak
Maldives - Kavaabu, Khuushuur
Myanmar - Lahpet thoke, Mohinga
Nepal - Momos,
Pakistan - Bun kebab, Falooda,
Philippines - Halo-halo, Kwek kwek
Sri Lanka - Achcharu, Hoppers
Singapore - Chili crab, Kaya toast
South Korea - Kimbap, Tteokbokki
Thailand - Crab omelets, Khao soi, Sai krok Isan
Taiwan - Salt & pepper fried chicken, Stinky tofu
Vietnam - Banh mi, Iced coffee, Pho

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The fast food culture in India

People eat food for various reasons. They do so when they are hungry, when they are in a celebration mood, or when they want to let down their hair and experiment with new cuisine and food outlets. The street food culture has spread because at times, people get fed up of dining at home or in hotels or restaurants. They want to enjoy their foods in the open and in the company of strangers. Thanks to the social media, this variety of food has flourished. You name it and they have it. They have very little overheads, hence can offer foods at unbelievable prices. Their patrons love to go to the street-side food outlets with others in queue. The menus offer South Indian items like dosa and idli to North Indian items like chana bhature, and biryani to egg based snacks. There are also the universal favorites like golguppa or fuchka and bhel puri or jhal muri.

The popularity of fast foods has encouraged them to set up their own and unique business models. Any person who operates one of these outlets tries to offer something unique. He wants his customers to keep coming back. He does not need to rope in PR teams – his foods do that. He has the uncanny ability of maintaining an inventory that will never run short of the ingredients. Each of them is a successful businessman or a business woman. Yes, many women are also into these ventures.

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)

Didi was in top gear. She had won a battle and had returned land to the farmers. She had ousted an automobile manufacturing company from her land, had uprooted the buildings and had returned the land back to the farmers. It was a promise she had made and, she had fulfilled it.
‘I think this calls for a celebration,’ Patro Chatto said in a low voice. He had, of late, come closer to Didi and he loved to bask in her glory.
‘Let us arrange a festival,’ Didi said. ‘We have ilish festival and sandesh festival, let us organize another interesting festival that has universal appeal.’
‘We can go in for jhal muri festival,’ Dee Wreck suggested. ‘It is a unique product of Bengal and has taken London by storm. I have seen rave reviews in the social media. We can use the opportunity to woo the British to come to our city.’
‘That is a good idea,’ Fear Had said. ‘I know you also love jhal muri. The other day you were having jhal muri in front of Victoria Memorial with one of your guests and it became hot news. Just like the hot jhal muri.’ Didi gave Fear Had a hard look.
‘I have a better idea,’ Omit Misra cleared his throat. ‘It has a mass appeal because it is loved equally all over the country.’
‘What is it?’ Didi asked.

‘Fuchka,’ Omit Misra replied and wiped his glasses. ‘It is also known as the golguppa or pani puri. Whenever I get a chance, I have several mouthfuls.’
‘Not a bad idea,’ Didi was serious. ‘I’ll invite my friends from Delhi and Mumbai to set up stalls for variety.’ ‘What about the venue?’ Show Van asked.
‘The Milon Mela,’ Didi said. ‘That is where we hold all festivals.’
‘But – it is a huge area. Can it be filled?’
Didi grinned.
‘Don’t be silly,’ she chided him. ‘There will be stalls for selling fuchka and golguppas and pani puris. Then there will be a section on cookery where experts will come and talk about how to make fuchkas. And – there will be books on fuchkas. I will write one book of poems about fuchka. The possibilities are unlimited.’
‘When do we have this festival?’ Dee Wreck asked.
‘Get hold of the oldest fuchka man and his date of birth. That will be the date,’ Didi said. ‘He will probably be from Bihar. I will honor him on the occasion and my fans will increase. I will also declare a holiday on that date so that everyone can make a beeline for Milon Mela to enjoy fuchkas.’
‘There is one problem,’ Patro Chatto mumbled.
‘What?’ Didi asked.
‘Can you take selfie while gulping fuchkas?’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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