Mithi Lassi and Bhelpuri, Paneer tikka, masalas, chutneys, Samosas. All visitors to India are greeted with the display of these delicacies throughout the nation: from the glittering lanes of cities to the old, dusty, paths of countries. What am I talking about? You are right it’s about street food of India.

Like traveling educates us like no book ever could thousands of street food with their diverse ingredient and aroma through the streets open a large window to the world of people. And nothing can represent the rich tapestry of India’s multi-cultural fabric better than street food.

Let’s go with the origin of different street foods. In the north, a typical street food is Chat-a generic name for a tangy, spicy, not very nutritious delicacy. Then it is Pani puri. A round crispy balls made of flour, stuffed with smashed potatoes and spices, dipped in a tangy water, topped with your favorite chutney. In Uttar Pradesh you get smashed potatoes with spices nothing but Aloo tikki. You also get Puri-Sabzie or Puri Bhaji. You get varieties of Kebabs and Tandooris also.

Coming to the east, we get Chop which is another version of Aloo tikki. In West Bengal you get Jhalmuri. It is a mixture of muri or puffed rice with onion, oil and spices. You also get rolls. And there is a trend of fried prawns or prawn chops too.

In the west, Maharashtra lies on the top among others states in serving the best street food. The first type is the cheapest and is also known as the ‘poor man’s burger’ . I am telling about Wada Pav. It is just a spicy Wada sandwiched between two buns or Pav. Then is masalas chai or spicy tea. Coming back to the Pav category we have Pav bhaji. Dry buns topped with butter eaten with bhaji or mashed spicy cooked vegetable. Then comes Pav-Sample. Buns are supposed to be had with Sample which can be Sambhar or ‘Usal’ a watery preparation of sprouted lentils. And how can we forget? Our Bhelpuris and Sevpuris.

In the south, let’s start with Kerala. In Kerala, you get Thattukada. They are covered carts with utensils and stove carrying and preparing street food like Thattu Dosa. Dosa is a rice crepe eaten with coconut chutney and sometimes with Sambhar. In Tamil Nadu a similar type thing called Thalluvandi is found. You also get varieties of Omelets Dosas and idlis in south India. As nearer to the seas and oceans you get sea food like Masala Prawns , Lobsters and a variety of fishes. You also get tender coconut water.

The concept of traditional street food has acquired in developed countries with food streets/food centers emerging as new tourist attractions. Major tourist attractions abroad invariably have food streets offering exotic local foods. We say that India has fantastic socio-cultural diversity of street food but, none of cities make room in the list along with other countries’ cities. I feel that the Indian government should do something to uplift famous food street like the Paratthe-wale gali in Delhi and many more so that even our country’s cities comes into the list as street food also symbolizes our ‘Unity in Diversity’.