‘Are Khichdi haters anti-national?’ Twitter reacts to globalisation of India’s comfort food

The Centre on Wednesday announced that Khichdi, the humble Indian dish made from rice and lentils will be popularised as a Brand India food globally at the World Food India event in New Delhi on November 4.

Considered to be one of the first solid foods recommended for infants, Khichdi is widely prepared in many Indian states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

The announcement by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union minister of food processing, to elevate the staple diet to India’s super food invoked a flurry of reaction on Twitter. Sample some:

Do we have to stand every time we see it being eaten? Is it compulsory to eat before a movie? Is it anti-national to not like the stuff? https://t.co/MkgWEBNQlH

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 1, 2017

This is the best decision imho.Khichdi has good amount of carbs, adequate amount of protein and fats. Even the show was better than sarabhai

— Chirag Barjatya (@chiragbarjatyaa) November 1, 2017

Can't understand why people are rubbishing #Khichdi and bringing politics into it. It's a comfort food that made well can be very tasty.

— Chitra Narayanan (@ndcnn) November 1, 2017

If Khichdi is being accorded the status of National Food, then Ghee, Dahi, Papad and Achaar should immediately be declared National Friends. pic.twitter.com/bLX842WL1S

— Roflindian (@Roflindian) November 1, 2017

In a world of #Biryani be someone's #khichdi

Desi love ♥️😂

— Tweetera (@DoctorrSays) November 1, 2017

Khichdi to be designated as India's national food, announcement on November 4. What could be the national drink now??😳 pic.twitter.com/u0SuUsDtor

— Vivid Bharthi (@VividBharthi) November 1, 2017

Khichdi is declared as our national dish, now my mom got another reason to cook it for lunch/dinner.

— Aditya Tare (@adityaatare) November 1, 2017

Wait. It makes sense. Khichdi's what you feed someone who's ill. So is this the govt's way of admitting they've screwed up the economy? https://t.co/gMewttYKFh

— Vaibhav Sharma (@taoofdudeism) November 1, 2017

#khichdi is our national food now so whenever your kids deny to eat it just play national anthem on loop and feed them with your hands

— RoAdSiDe BaBa (@Roadside_Monk) November 1, 2017