Corona times. Lockdown. Social distancing. Limited outings. No going out for golgappas. And my craving for them intensifies day by day.

In my mind’s eye, I picture the guy behind the counter handing me a donaa (leaf bowl) and stirring the huge pot of cool tangy mint water with a long ladle. He then takes a roundly puffed crisp golgappa, crushes a small hollow in it, stuffs it with the spicy potato mixture, dips it into the pot of freshly stirred mint water, and then, as I extend my hand in happy anticipation, places the delicious dripping golgappa in my donaa!

And I feel the crunchiness of the golgappa combine with the saltiness of the potatoes, sweetness of the tamarind chutney, sourness of the mint water, and sharpness of the spices to explode into a bomb of flavor in my mouth!

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We Indians love golgappas! Golgappa or paani ke batashe as we call them in the North or phuchka or phuska as they are known in the East or paani puri in the West, they are the most popular street food and fast food and fun food all rolled into one! There is a golgappa stall at every corner, every nook of the country, and we can eat golgappas any time of the day!

For me, golgappas are precious moments of joy stolen from routine. Six golgappas leave me refreshed, energized, ready to take on the world! And the best part is that our children acquire the taste very young. Four year old Tanvi, her tiny mouth stuffed with a golgappa and tears running down her cheeks is a memory I hug close to my heart. Even today, a quick round of golgappas is almost always the unspoken agenda when we are out!

Though I have my favorite golgappa guy in the local market, I am willing to try them out just about anywhere, any street corner, any market, any mall! I can eat them on a shopping trip, when running an errand, waiting for a friend or simply on spotting a golgappa stall! However hurried I may be, I manage to find 10 minutes for golgappas!

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Google India reports that the search for golgappa recipe went up by 107% during the corona lockdown. No wonder I have seen so many videos of people flaunting their golgappa genius at home!

Because the golgappa experience is much more…

Putting golgappas together is an art. And no one can do this better than the golgappa guy. The taste is not only in the constituents, it is in the mix! It is in the style in which the golgappa guy serves the golgappas. It is in the way he makes it a point to serve the golgappas just as each one of us likes it. It is in the manner in which he goes round the semi-circle of people around him serving golgappas at the right speed, giving us just enough time to relish them before becoming impatient for the next one!

And I realize, it is not just the golgappas that I miss. It is the entire golgappa experience.

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And my goal this year, once we start eating out again, is to finally have a no-limit golgappa-eating contest with my friends, something I have been dying to do for so many years!

Here’s to my golgappa goals!