Story of Pani Puri

Golgappa, pani puri, pani ke batashe, phulki, puchka… All of these are names for one of India’s most iconic street snacks. There are contradictory stories about the origins of pani puri, and they are tangled up in history and mythology. Some sources trace its origin to the kingdom of Magadha, while others date it back to Draupadi’s kitchen in the Mahabharata. Whatever be the truth in these origin stories, one thing is abundantly clear: the humble, lightweight, and crunchy snack travelled across India and became popular everywhere it went. As a result, it is known in different regions of India by various names. The puri itself may be made of maida (refined wheat flour) or suji (semolina). The filling may be boiled and mashed potatoes, or potatoes with chopped onions, boiled moong or Bengal gram, boiled white peas, or potatoes with boiled chana/chi ...