Football Icon David Beckham Receives Traditional Welcome and Cooks Daal Ki Chaat in Mumbai

Football legend David Beckham received a quintessentially Indian welcome in Mumbai on Friday, complete with a traditional aarti, tika, marigold garland, and an impromptu cooking lesson in making dal ki chaat. The former England captain, visibly delighted, shared a video on Instagram showing himself assembling the popular street snack—pouring lentils into a bowl, layering chutneys, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and coriander, and finishing with a squeeze of lime. Captioning the post “So touched by everyone’s kindness… Thank you for my traditional welcome and Dal Ki Chaat lessons,” Beckham declared he was “making some beautiful memories in Mumbai.”

The 50-year-old icon is in India as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, having earlier visited Visakhapatnam, where he interacted with students at a residential school supported by Education Above All (EAA) and Mantra4Change. There, he played football with children, participated in project-based learning sessions, planted trees, and highlighted the importance of education for underprivileged youth.

Fans flooded his post with affection, with one writing, “The one time I am out of Mumbai… he comes to Mumbai,” and another declaring Beckham “always loved and has huge fans like me.” The wholesome clip of the global superstar happily stirring chaat has quickly gone viral, further cementing his reputation as one of the most universally adored figures in sport.

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From Gujarat’s dhokla during his 2014 visit to now mastering dal ki chaat, Beckham’s love affair with Indian culture and cuisine continues to win hearts across the country.

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