Clashes of Communities: Kolkata’s Phuchka Vs. Mumbai’s Pani Puri

Shilpa, a lifelong Mumbaikar, could barely contain her excitement as she was about to take her new colleague from Kolkata, Shayantan, to taste the oh-so-popular Pani Puri. After consuming six of them, it was time for the verdict, and it was not what Shilpa had expected:

“Pani Puri is fine, but it’s not even close to the Phuchka I have enjoyed back home in Kolkata” – Shayantan said with a smirk on his face.

The rest of the conversation went as you would expect. Shilpa was sticking up for Amchi Mumbai’s Pani Puri, while Shayantan offered a list of reasons why Sonar Bangla’s Phuchka is better of the two. ?

The friendly feud continued even after they went home. Being part of a facebook community called “Bombay Foodies”, Shilpa asked her fellow members to opine on this hot topic, and they didn’t disappoint her. Shayantan, who was the newest member of the group, received a sort of hazing that was hilarious and annoying in equal measure. However, Shayantan wasn’t the one to back out either. He made sure he replied in kind to every single snide comment. This went on till early next morning, without a truce in sight!

Is it any wonder that India, which harbours?all kinds of diversity, will also include diversity of delicacies and their ardent fan bases too?

So, let’s get to the crux of the matter. How does Pani Puri and Phuchka differ from one another?

The answer is an interesting one, so keep reading!

A Two-of-A-Kind?Puri?Saga?

The story goes that the legendary queen in Mahabharata, Draupadi, came up with the first?Pani?Puri?using leftover potato dish and wheat. Nowadays, an amalgamation of mashed potatoes and sprouts creates the filling that goes into the?puri, which is made of wheat or semolina. Sometimes you may find the filling stuffed with ‘matar daal’. However, the real magic starts when the tamarind chutney and ‘hing’ water or coriander-mint water are poured into the stuffed-puri. Your taste buds thank you for the explosion of sweet-yet-tangy flavour that remains long after you’re done eating?them. ?

In contrast, its doppelganger, Phuchka, will take you across the country to the bustling streets of West Bengal. Like its Maharashtrian counterpart, the?puri?is made of wheat, while the filling consists of mashed potatoes and black chickpeas. There is also a bit of chopped green chili or masala powder mixed into the stuffing to bring out the flavour. Interestingly, what sets Kolkata’s Phuchka apart from Mumbai’s?Pani?Puri?is the mustard-based water that is poured generously into the cavity of the?puri. The moment you sink your teeth into this savoury blend of wonder delight, you realise why Bengal is in love with this lip-smacking food item.

Stall Tales: Tidy?Pani?Puri?Vs. Rugged Phuchka

Apart from the taste of two puris, the other thing that will immediately come to your attention is the difference in stalls. While most?Pani?Puri?stalls in Mumbai are tidy four-legged proper tables, Phuchka stalls are made of bent-bamboo sticks. The contrast in shape and scale of the stalls tell you a story about the financial status of the two working-class communities of Mumbai and Kolkata.

A?Pani?Puri?wala in Mumbai can afford to make his stall look more presentable, while the seller in Bengal has to do the best with what he has got. Thankfully, this subtle difference doesn’t affect neither the quality of the food nor the experience of enjoying Phuchka with your family and friends.

An Uncanny Contest?Between Peers?

Although?Pani?Puri?and Phuchka taste different, both are irresistible, and you can’t just stop at one. This nearly uncontrollable urge to consume as many puris as your stomach allows has given birth to one of the most fun and competitive games yet to be recognised by any professional sports body:

?The?Pani?Puri/Phuchka contest!

?It takes you back to your school or college days, doesn’t it? ?

After spending 2-3 hours of wrapping your head around topics such as differential equations or price elasticity at school or a tuition centre, the?Pani?Puri?wala or the Phuchka wala at the corner of a street was a sight for sore eyes. For those blissful 10-20 minutes, you used to forget all your pending assignments and tried to outdo your friends by eating the most puris!

Sometimes, bets were even placed, on which some of us happily welched. But it was never about the money. The simple joy of doing pointless things like a Phuchka contest with your friends was laced with a feeling of doing something together and be part of a larger whole.

Durga Puja’s Phuchka Vs. Ganesh Chaturthi’s?Pani?Puri?

Speaking of a sense of belonging, you will have to look with a fine-tooth comb to find a more vibrant community event in all of Bengal than Durga Puja. While the sheer joy of celebrating the five-day festival has its own charm, Phuchka also plays a crucial role in making this time of the year so exciting for all Bengalis.

You may book a table at the Oberoi Grand in Esplanade but that’s no reason to skip paying a visit to one of the several Phuchka stalls in Salt Lake during your pandal-hopping. Whether you are marvelling at the gorgeous idols of Maa Durga in Ekdalia or Dum Dum, the long queues at the food stalls are proof that Durga Puja is incomplete without Phuchka in the mix.

Not to be outdone by Bengal’s madness, the mighty Marathas dazzle the world in their own way. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is a sight to behold as Mumbaikars pull out all stops to welcome Ganpati Bappa in typical Maharashtrian style and flair. During these days, Modak, Puran Poli, and Motichoor Laddoos are commonplace. To offset the sweetness, you need a little tangy flavour in mouth, and this is where?Pani?Puri?does the trick. ?

From a bird’s eye view, these actions seem like an involuntary move, but there is a rhythm to this beautiful chaos. It’s almost magical how two different communities, separated by thousands of miles and celebrating two different festivals, are drawn to two look-alike food items! Regardless of their socio-economic status, people of Bengal and Maharashtra come together as one community to share happiness and excitement during festivals, and Phuchka and?Pani?Puri?play their part in elevating the feeling of joy by just that much.

Phuchka and Pani Puri Embodies Two Different Communities

There is a widely held belief that every 20 kilometres, the food and dialect of people change in this country. It’s no wonder that two states situated in the opposite sides of India are distinctive in their own ways.

Our food is not only a unique offering to the world, it’s the very thing that defines us. A Mumbaikar will always have a bias for Pani Puri, while Phuchka will rule the hearts of the people of Kolkata. That’s why Shilpas of Mumbai may never be able to convince Shayantans of Kolkata to like Pani Puri more than Phuchka.

In a way, a simple culinary preference symbolises the difference between two communities.

How wonderful is that!