Google celebrated pani puri on July 12, 2023 with a creative Doodle game. Pani puri is a beloved street food in India, consisting of a crispy shell filled with a delectable combination of potatoes, chickpeas, spices, or chilis, and flavored waters. There is a wide range of pani puri flavors to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
The Doodle Game
The Google Doodle game for pani puri is a fun and interactive way to learn about the history and flavors of this popular snack. In the game, players help a street vendor fill orders for pani puri. The player must choose the puris that match each customer’s flavor and quantity preference to keep them happy.
The History of Pani Puri
Pani puri has a long and rich history in India. The snack is thought to have originated in the ancient epic Mahabharata, where it is said to have been invented by Draupadi, a newlywed, when she faced the challenge of feeding five men with limited resources. Using only leftover aloo sabzi (potatoes and vegetables) and a small amount of wheat dough, Draupadi displayed her creativity. She filled small pieces of fried dough with the potato and vegetable mixture, thus giving birth to pani puri.
The Flavors of Pani Puri
There are many different variations of pani puri, each with its own unique flavor profile. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, pani puri is typically filled with boiled chickpeas, a white pea mixture, and sprouts, all dipped in tangy and spicy pani. In the northern states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and New Delhi, pani puri is called gol gappe or gol gappa, and the potato and chickpea-filled treat is dunked in jaljeera-flavored water. In West Bengal and parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, pani puri is referred to as puchkas or fuchkas, and tamarind pulp is the essential ingredient for this variation.
How to Enjoy Pani Puri
Although there are numerous filling options and pani flavors to cater to individual palates, two fundamental principles unite pani puri enthusiasts: devour the snack quickly to prevent the puri from becoming soggy or leaking, and always consume it in one bite to avoid any messy crumbling.
