India: In an incident that highlights the challenges of food delivery during religious festivals, a Zomato customer observing a fast for Maha Shivratri received an order of Chinese-style fried rice instead of the sabudana khichdi (tapioca pearl porridge) They had ordered. The frustrating mix-up, which was shared on social media, prevented the user from breaking their day-long fast with the intended meal.
The Incident: A Costly Mistake on a Holy Day
The customer, observing the Maha Shivratri vrat (fast), placed an order for sabudana khichdi, a common fasting food in India made from sago pearls, peanuts, and potatoes. This dish is specifically prepared without grains and spices like turmeric and asafoetida, which are typically avoided during certain Hindu fasts.
- The Order: A specific, fasting-friendly meal from a restaurant via Zomato.
- The Delivery: Instead of the light, spiced
khichdi, the customer received a container of fried rice—a dish explicitly made with rice and often containing non-fasting ingredients like onions and certain spices, making it completely unsuitable for someone observing the strict fast. - The Consequence: The error meant the customer could not consume the delivered food, ruining their planned meal to break the fast after a day of abstinence.
Social Media Reaction and Zomato’s Response
The customer shared their experience online, posting a picture of the incorrect order. The post garnered significant attention, as many empathised with the frustration of having a religious observance disrupted by a delivery error.
- Public Sentiment: The reaction was largely sympathetic, with many users calling it a “major blunder” by the restaurant and the delivery platform’s quality check system, especially on an important festival day.
- Zomato’s Action: While the specific resolution for this customer is not detailed in the source article, Zomato’s standard protocol for wrong order deliveries typically involves offering a full refund or credit for the misplaced order upon customer complaint.
