Street food gets back on track in Varanasi

In the state of chaos and uncertainty, the street food hawkers and vendors, who were quiet and stayed low during the lockdown are back on the streets with extraordinary energy. Even the paan wallahs and chaat wallahs of Banaras have adapted to the new normal wearing PPE kits and masks while serving the eatables.

Setting new safety standards, paanwala Vishal Chaurasia has been selling paans while wearing the PPE (Personal protective equipment) suit at work. Chaurasia regularly sanitizes his shop and maintains proper hygiene. “I give these masks and caps to all the customers who come to our shop without it. Also, I have a sanitizer at the shop to sanitize my gloves, cash and everything that I touch while working. I also keep another huge bottle of sanitizer for my customers at all times,” he says.
Street food vendors and Banarasi chaat wallahs that feed hundreds of office goers, students, men and women every day, are seen wearing masks and gloves while handling food. A chaat shop owner in Gowdoliya says, “Since unlock and the opening of our chaat shop, we’re delighted to see customers flocking here to have the very famous Banarasi chaat.”

He adds “With that being said, we’re ensuring the use of all safety measures including gloves, masks, sanitizers, etc and maintaining social distancing.”
Owner of a fast food restaurant, Anshuman Singh has been going around with the motto of serving hotel safe food at affordable price while taking care of the safety measures. He says, “We are taking all the necessary precautions to maintain social distancing along with the hygiene. We have glass barriers installed and everyone is expected to keep wearing masks unless eating of course.”
Compliance with norms for social distancing and other safety measures is being taken care of by Uday Rao, another restaurant owner in the city. Rao says, “I’m doing everything in my capacity to ensure that my restaurant takes all the measures needed to maintain the safety of our customers and employees. The staff is constantly wearing the face shield along with disposable masks and gloves. The chefs are always donning caps. Also, we have gone digital in terms of the menu and are encouraging online transactions.”
— With inputs by Yashi Agarwal