Poha-the new fad of students

Light breakfast

Variety is the spice of life. And it rules the Indian platter too. In India breakfast or nashta, as it is popularly known, varies from region to region. You will never get bored as the choice is varied. From idli-sambar, upma, aloo paratha to poha, the choice is immense.

Even though most people in the city these days are happy with their share of oats, cornflakes or sandwiches for breakfast, there's nothing like a traditional hot Indian breakfast.

Though Delhi’s student community prefers more of fast food and loves to experiment with their tastes, the exception is homemade breakfast for students residing in the Laxmi Nagar area.

A small outlet known as Jain Poha Centre in a street near Laxmi Nagar Metro Station, run by 22-year-old young man, Satish, is the breakfast hub of many a hungry soul. The tiny food joint is thronged with students from six in the morning to two in the afternoon. “If I keep my shop open till 2 or 3 pm students will still come,” Satish tells Metrolife.

It is a delight to watch him rustle up “yummy poha” within minutes. The way he garnishes the poha is amazing, students stand and wait for their tray to be ready. “The poha here is tasty and a light brunch for me, as sometimes I get up late,” says Vaibhav
Gupta, a chartered accountancy student.

Satish prepares a platter of poha beforehand, soaked and mixed with salt-sugar and fried chillies, he garnishes the poha before he serves the customers with chopped onion and tomato, roasted peanuts, specially prepared aloo bhujiya and poha masala and lastly squeezes some lemon on it. Looking at the process is in itself mouthwatering, the poha has a tangy taste and pleasing to the eye with its multicoloured garnishing.
“Poha is a healthy breakfast item and people like it,” says Satish. The little stall was setup by Satish and his elder brother and it’s been 12 years since they have been dishing out delicious poha.

Metrolife counted more than 38 customers who’d come for their daily high! One of Satish’s customers is such a diehard fan that he travels all the way from Gurgoan to eat poha. “Twice or thrice in a month I come here to have poha. Earlier, I was a regular customer when I was studying here,” says Sarthak Aggarwal.

Satish sells around 250 to 300 poha plates a day. And he manages the outlet all alone. The service is good and pretty fast. If one wants to try the poha one can get off at Laxmi Nagar Metro Station and ask for the pohawala. The street vendors and shop owners in the vicinity will guide you to Jain Poha Centre.