From Streets To Social Media: The Evolution Of Street Food Culture In Urban India

With the expansion of influencer culture, we are exposed to the trend of street foods in every corner of urban India. Food vloggers and influencers have played a significant role in making the street food culture famous in urban areas. You might have seen several viral videos comparing street foods with premium restaurant foods, and most of the time they like the street food for its quality, taste and affordability. A question might arise in our mind, how did street food become a part of Indian urban culture and reshape the culinary landscape?

India has been known for its rich culinary traditions. Small street food stalls have been offering a variety of delicious and affordable foods to the people that highlight the urban culture and heritage of India. However, over the years it has evolved due to cultural and societal shifts and fulfils the demand of urbanisation, globalisation and changing customer preferences.

History of street food culture  

Although the street food culture is highly becoming famous in today’s urban culture through social media, it is rooted in the ancient period. In Ramayana and Mahabharata, we got a view of street vendors who used to sell roasted grains, nuts and different types of bread to people. Henceforth, we can say that the culture started from the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods.

Entering the Mughal era, we got a mention of bazaars and markets. Different vendors gather in these bazaars or markets to sell kebabs and bread to the local people of Delhi. The Mughal has significantly contributed to the evaluation of the tastes and variety of culinary dishes in India.

If we are talking about Indian street food, how do we forget about vada pav, pani puri, chat, samosa and pakora? All these street foods have their own history that evolved around the culinary culture of India.

Vada pav, the popular street food of Mumbai, has been rooted in history back in 1966. A Mumbaiker, Ashok Vaidya, opened a small stall against Dadar station to provide thousands of workers with a quick and inexpensive snack. Well, samosa contains a different history. Although we might think that it is an Indian snack, we all are wrong. It was invented during the 10^th century in the Middle East region and it was introduced in India by some traders and travellers around the 14^th century in the period of the Delhi Sultanate.

Well, now we have an idea that our Indian street food culture dates back to in ancient period that evolved around with the influence of Indian culture as well as the traders and travellers that came to India with their unique dishes. Over centuries, street food adopted several local preferences as well as became the medium of cultural exchange with other countries and continents.

The role of street food in urbanization

The urbanisation and industrialisation process started in India during the 19^th and 20^th centuries. The metro cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and so on started to grow rapidly because migrants and locals started to seek employment in different factories and industries. Vendors gathered and started to offer affordable and delicious foods to those people who lived away from their homes and trying to adapt to the urban environment.

The accessibility and affordability of street foods like samosa, vada pav and pani puri make the street food culture famous among the migrants and locals. Vendors mostly choose strategic locations that are near schools, factories, offices, transport hubs and so on, so that they get instant attention from the people.

The street food culture also contributed to food tourism in India. People from foreign locations came to India to taste Indian cuisines and explore the culinary traditions. The culinary tourism market of India is increasing with a CAGR rate of 23% and in 2024 it was around $49.8 billion. The ready-to-eat food market size is around $895.64 million which is increasing with a CAGR of 15%.

The street food culture not only helps to improve urbanisation but also significantly contributes to the food tourism of India. The variety and affordability attract a lot of tourists to visit a place in India and gain a significant experience that enhances the tourist arrival in the country.

What are some famous regional street foods?

There are a lot of popular street foods in different regions of India but here we will talk about a few of them that are the most famous. If foreigners are visiting India or any Indians have been exploring different regional food cultures, they can prefer these famous foods that can increase their travelling worth.

Pani Puri (North India):

Pani Puri has been called the heart of the street food culture of India. Well, this has different names and different tastes in different regions of India. If you are in Delhi, it is called Golgappa, in West Bengal, it is called Puchka and in Mumbai, it is called Pani Puri. This is basically crispy puris that is filled with a mixture of mashed potatoes, chickpeas, sprouts and a spicy and tangy flavoured tamarind water. Well, it is not only a snack but also a part of social gatherings, daily life and festival celebrations.

Vada Pav (Maharashtra):

It is often misunderstood with burgers. Well, it originated in the street food culture of Maharashtra but you can avail it in many other regions as well. It is mainly made with a bun or pav with a spiced potato fritter (vada) with some chutneys. This was introduced in the market to feed the busy working populations of the state.

Dhokla (Gujarat):

Although there are a huge number of Gujarati street foods available in the market, Dhokla is one of the most significant among them. Dhokla appeared in 1520 AD in Gujrati Varanaka Samuchaya. Well, this is mainly a steamed savoury cake and the main ingredients are rice and chickpea flour which makes it spongy and lightweight. It is served with green chutney and garnished with curry leaves and mustard seeds.

Chole Bhature (Punjab):

In the street food culture of India, every food lover’s taste buds and heart have been captured by Chole Bhature which originated in the northern state of India, especially in Punjab and is rooted back in the 20^th century. Although it has been said that Mughal cuisine has an influence on this dish made of fluffy and deep-fried bread or Bhature and a mixture of spicy chickpeas or Chole.

Good and bad sides of Indian street foods

If you are wandering in the Indian streets and want to experience the street food culture, yes there are a variety of street foods in different regions of the country. All these are affordable, accessible and full of tastes that can be adapted to the busy working culture. However, there are some bad sides to it also.

If you are having street food, you can not expect better hygiene and healthy ingredients. Consuming these street foods regularly can cause different foodborne illnesses such as food poisoning. The use of excessive oils, butter and spices can also be harmful to your health and digestive system on a long-term basis.

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