Street food of INDIA

How many foodies are reading this? Well yes! This post is all about FOOOOOOOD!
Food is an integral part of our life and when we are talking about the street food and that too of India one cannot stop his mouth watering. So get ready to dive in the world of street food.

India is a country blessed with lot of things like rich heritage, culture, traditions, diversity, unity and many more but the thing which every true Indian cherishes about the country is STREET FOOD. Street food represents a part of India. Colorful narrow streets, packed with small roadside food stalls serving delicious cuisines, are worth grabbing. Thousands of street food with their various ingredients and aroma through the streets open a large window to the world. Every state here serves its own specialty. Whether it is Litti chokha of Bihar, vada pav and pav bhaji of Mumbai or spicy kebabs of Lucknow – every item has its own taste and feeling. A great combination of sweet and spicy flavors can be found in the lanes of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Spicy poha served with sweet jalebi is the ideal breakfast for people there. Streets of Punjab and the capital of the country Delhi are found with every next chole-kulche stall. If talk we about south India, then it is famous for its roadside dosas and idlis; Gujarat serving jalebi-fafda is the favorite of every gujarati. These are the few dishes of street food which are specifically found in these states but there are some items which can be found anywhere in the country. From gol-gappas to aloo-tikki-chat, momos to ‘Indian-style chowmein  and small tents known as ‘tapirs’ selling masala chai – every individual in India enjoys these.  ‘Parathe-wali-gali’ in Delhi and maggi in Manali’s mall road are the best places of tourist attraction. These quick bites, easy to make, not so healthy and yet so yummy food items are loved by all.

Apart from having these perks of street food it shows a darker side of the country. India is still fighting with some macro-economic problems like lack of employment opportunities, poverty etc and due to this a large part of the population is dependent upon these jobs. For many vendors among them these stalls are the only source of income. Maximum they can earn in a day is just 2000-3000 which is substantial level of income for a lower-class family. There are also many challenges faced by them. First of all, they are deprived by laws made by government in respect of labour union. They are forced to pay 15-20 Rs to the local police as a bribe; they are always hit by the market price-fluctuations and irregular employment. They are associated with encroachment of public spaces, causes traffic congestion, inadequate hygiene, and poor waste disposal. Food safety has become a concern regarding street food. No government agency is responsible to verify the quality of food selling by them. Street vendors are surviving without government support. However, lately government has passed ‘’Street-vendors bill 2013’’ which protects the rights of them.

Street food of India is the heart of the country diversity. They are not enjoyed just because of their low price and good taste but it gives immense pleasure which we cannot feel while eating in an expensive restaurant. Every Saturday-Sunday we can see the ‘chopatis’ filled with hoggers.

. Diverse nature of street food here symbolizes ‘’unity in diversity’’ and there should be some regulatory body to regulate which will uplift the concept of street food.