10 Must-Try Street Foods During Durga Puja Season 2025

Between the lights, the crowds, the selfies, and the dhak beats, there’s one thing no one skips during Durga Puja : street food. Food stalls become mini-festivals in themselves, with vendors serving hot, fresh delicacies that are impossible to resist. From Kolkata to Delhi, from small town melas to big city carnivals, Puja food scenes are buzzing. Whether you're walking in heels or dancing barefoot, a plate of something spicy, tangy, or sweet is always within reach. So forget your diet this week, these 10 street foods deserve a guilt-free indulgence.

Phuchka (Pani Puri/Golgappa)

No Puja season is complete without the tangy explosion of phuchkas. Crispy puris filled with spicy mashed potatoes, dunked in tamarind water, this is pure magic in one bite. Every city has its version, but the Kolkata-style phuchka , with a hint of gondhoraj lemon and black salt, hits differently. It’s not just food, it’s an obsession.

Egg (or Chicken) Roll

A flaky paratha, layered with a runny egg, stuffed with onions, green chilies, ketchup, and sometimes chicken or paneer, it’s the perfect on-the-go meal during pandal hopping. Hot, greasy, and ridiculously satisfying, the Kolkata roll stall always has a queue for a reason.

Mughlai Paratha

Stuffed with spicy minced meat and egg, deep-fried to golden perfection, Mughlai paratha is heavy, indulgent, and oh-so-worth-it. Best paired with some tangy ketchup or a side of aloo dum, it’s your go-to meal when your stomach says bhog isn't enough.

Telebhaja (Bengali Fritters)

These deep-fried snacks are the OG Puja time nibbles. Think beguni (brinjal fritters), alur chop (potato croquettes), mochar chop (banana blossom cutlets), crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and always best with a cup of hot tea. Perfect for that 4 pm snack craving between two pandals.

Chicken or Fish Cutlet

Breaded, spiced, and fried till golden, cutlets are a Puja staple. Pair them with some kasundi (mustard dip), a bit of salad, and you’ve got a mini feast. The best ones are usually found in vintage food stalls near old pandals that have been serving since your parents’ childhood.

Chowmein with Chili Chicken

This Indo-Chinese combo is a Puja food court essential. Loaded with soy, garlic, onions, and capsicum, chowmein is tossed on giant tavas right in front of you. Add some saucy chili chicken on the side, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate comfort plate. Messy? Yes. Delicious? Always.

Bhapa Sandesh & Mishti Doi

After all the spice and heat, it’s time for something sweet. Bhapa sandesh, a steamed Bengali sweet made from chhena, melts in the mouth. Pair it with a chilled mishti doi, and you’ll understand why people say dessert is a feeling, not a dish.

Jhalmuri

Spicy puffed rice mixed with mustard oil, onions, chillies, peanuts, and chopped raw mango, jhalmuri is crunchy, light, and packs a punch. It’s perfect for munching while waiting in pandal queues or walking to your next stop. Pro tip: always trust the guy with the steel can and magical mix-ins.

Ghugni Chaat

This spicy white pea curry topped with chopped onions, green chillies, and a squeeze of lemon is pure comfort food. It’s filling, warm, and usually served in leaf bowls with a wooden spoon. A perfect balance of tangy and spicy to keep you going through the evening.

Ice Cream Rolls or Kulfi Falooda

Cool things down with a dessert that’s as photogenic as it is tasty. From street-side ice cream rolls being made fresh on frozen slabs to classic kulfi falooda dripping in rose syrup, Puja evenings are never too cold for a chilled treat. Great to share… but you won’t want to.