MOMO MANIA AT DELHI UNIVERSITY

Students are choosing momos over other street food options; sellers claim their sales have hit a new high

Delhi University’s North Campus has no dearth of options when it comes to lip-smacking food. However since the new session has begun, it’s the momos that have been selling like hot cakes.

“We have tremendous sales these days,” says Umesh, who mans the Dolma Aunty Momo stall in Kamla Nagar market. “Main 2.30 pm se stall chalata hoon aur almost tab se hi sale shuru ho jaati hai. Mere paas chicken, paneer aur vegetarian momos hain. Chicken momos ki sabse zyada demand hoti hai,” he says, adding that his stock is often sold out within a few hours and customers are ready to even gobble vegetarian options if chicken momos aren’t available.

The hawkers claim that the sale of momos and Chinese foods, has hit a new high. Some of the stall owners selling Indian street food such as kachoris, matar kulcha and paranthas envy the thriving momo business.

Raja, a Chinese food hawker who runs a stall at Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station, says, “Yaha teen momo ke stall hain, ek Chinese van hai aur do thele waale hain jo Chinese bechte hain tab bhi sabki acchi sale ho rahi hai.”

Most students say they choose momos over other foods as these are pocketfriendly, filling, and not as oily or unhygienic (since tongs are used to serve them). Yangchen Dolkar, a first-year student of Hans Raj College, says, “I am not from Delhi, and these momos remind me of my home, Sikkim, and are also cheap.”

Sahej Arora, a student from SGTB Khalsa College roots for the popularity of these dumplings. He says, “It’s not like we don’t eat other things, but Chinese khana sasta hota hai. `25 mein half plate milti hai jismein 5 piece aa jaate hai. Ab isse sasta kya hi milega?”

I am not from Delhi, and these momos remind me of my home state, Sikkim, and these are also cheap YANGCHEN DOLKAR, STUDENT