Sudden rain and thunderstorms brought an unexpected chill to Delhi-NCR on Friday morning, marking the capital’s first showers in 2026. While the weather disrupted the routines of many, Singapore’s High Commissioner to India Simon Wong decided to welcome the change with a distinctly Indian response – chai and pakodas.
The diplomat shared a set of pictures of his rainy day ritual on social media and immediately struck a chord with netizens. In the post, he is seen enjoying a steaming cup of tea alongside a plate of freshly fried pakodas, a combination generally considered comfort food during rainy weather across India.
“Celebrating the first #baarish of 2026 with #chai #pakora. Join me?” Mr. Wong wrote and shared three photos. One image shows his mid-bite with tea placed in front, another offers a close-up of the snack and drink, while the third captures a rain-soaked lawn, reflecting the sudden change in Delhi’s winter mood.
The post quickly drew reactions from social media users, with many praising the ambassador’s embrace of local food culture. The comments ranged from suggestions of preferred pakoda varieties to light-hearted responses accepting his invitation. “Best onion and tomato pakoda,” one user wrote, while another commented, “Sir, you just need haatho ki bani chai.” A few others simply replied that they would be happy to join him.
Mr Wong, who took over as Singapore’s High Commissioner to India in June 2020, has often shared glimpses of his experiences in the country, from travel to food and cultural moments. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Sociology from the National University of Singapore and a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Cornell University in the United States.
Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR continued to witness light rain and drizzle accompanied by strong winds and overcast skies at several areas. Sudden showers added to the winter chill, prompting residents to pull out their warm clothes once again.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the capital city is likely to witness further drop in temperatures in the next 24 hours. On January 23, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 12 °C and a maximum of around 19 °C. The weather service issued an orange alert for the city, warning of continued rain and thunderstorms.
As Delhi adjusts to this unusual “winter rain”, Mr Wong’s chai-and-pakoda moment served as a reminder that some rituals remain timeless – regardless of season or nationality.
