Grab-and-go snack packs for pandal hopping

Durga Puja calls for fun pandal-hopping, tackling crowds, and queuing up for darshan – meaning you need a snack pack of energy along. And while bhog – the festival’s pièce de résistance – is enriching and filling, the little bites along the way help to keep the spirit alive. Check out this day-by-day snack guide – light, spicy, sweet, and comforting.Shashti: A gentle crunch to begin withShashti snacks should be light and zesty — puffed rice tossed with roasted nuts, chillies, and lime, or rice crackers and baked potato sticks for fuss-free crunch. Nothing says Pujo nostalgia like bhutta smeared with lime and chilli-salt, eaten on the move. “During pandal-hopping, snacking should be mindful, so one doesn’t feel bloated. My favourite is makhana — easy to carry, easier to digest. But if there’s a bigger hunger attack, I’d prefer galawati rolls or phuchkas (pani puri),” says Abhishek Ghosh, a Kolkata resident.Saptami: Turn up the heatBy Saptami, the pandals are buzzing, and so are you. This is the day for something spicier. Crispy masala mathri, chaklis, or chilli-coated peanuts make great companions. “Every Pujo, families look for food that is fun, shareable and easy to enjoy on the go. Wings, nachos, sliders and other continental small bites are expected to be the top picks this season,” says Shivam Dutta, owner of Casa Miami.Ashtami: Go beyond bhogAshtami blends devotion with indulgence — so your snack box should too. Pair flaky nimki (namak para) with chocolate-coated dry fruits, or carry mini mishti doi cups with salted chips for contrast. Traditionalists can go for shankarpali (shakkarpara) with kaju barfi bites — indulgence dipped in nostalgia. “Pujo for me is incomplete without food. On Ashtami, I love indulging in street-side phuchkas and chowmein, but I also make it a point to explore new cafés during the season,” says Suman Mondal, for whom pandal-hopping and eating go hand-in-hand.Navami: Time to indulgeNavami is peak pandal-hopping — the loudest dhunuchi naach, the most crowded pandals, the longest nights out. This is the moment to go all-in with fried favourites such as mini kachoris, crisp samosas, hot pakoras, egg rolls or chicken cutlets. Azra Asher Ather, sales director of Aminia, says, “We see a clear rise in kebab roll takeaways during the festive days. Families and pandal-hoppers pick them as quick, wholesome snacks that are easy to carry and enjoy on the move.”Dashami: Comfort in a biteThe last day is bittersweet — and so are the snacks. Cheese crackers, homemade chivda, or a bar of chocolate bring comfort. For something heartier, try paneer cheese bread rolls, vegetarian kakori kebabs, or even a baked singara (samosa) — familiar, filling, and warm. “The Japanese mushroom sandoz or baked singara reimagine Pujo classics in healthier avatars, while kebab rolls remain the most-loved comfort bites,” says Sudip Mullick, director of Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick and Bonne Femme.Snack hacks that come handyWhat other experts say:Pujo evenings are incomplete without something fried and flavourful — drums of heaven, paneer balls, and noodles are in demand– Shivam Poddar, owner of Manthan SonghaiPandal-hopping calls for indulgent yet portable snacks. Dishes like raw mango fish tikka and mutton motichur in saffron basundi fuel the festivities bite by bite– Moushumi Sircar, partner - Bonne Femme