NEW YORK, 26 October 2026 – Mr.Paanwala, the Pennsylvania-based paan brand founded by Mehul Patel in 2009, joined the 13th annual Diwali on the Hudson on 22 October 2026 at HK Hall, serving its signature paan set on fire. More than 400 supporters attended the fundraiser by The Desai Foundation for women and children in rural India.
Mr.Paanwala at Diwali on the Hudson 2026
Mr.Paanwala was among the food and experience partners at the New York gala, alongside Baked by Melissa, Desi Galli and Kolkata Chai. The event has been featured on Good Morning America and named a best Diwali celebration in the United States by Time Out Magazine. All proceeds support Desai Foundation programs in health, livelihood, and menstrual equity.
Mr.Paanwala Milestones Across the USA
Mehul Patel founded Mr.Paanwala in 2009 after moving from Vadodara, Gujarat, to the United States, where he began making the paan his grandmother taught him at age 12. The brand reports more than 100 paan offerings, more than 3 million paan served, and events in 32 US states and 12 countries, all tobacco-free. Mehul Patel also founded Paan Casa, billed as the first paan cafe in the world. Mr.Paanwala also offers live paan stations for weddings, Sangeet nights and celebrations, including a Cleveland Sangeet for 1,000-plus guests.
In 2026, Mehul Patel showcased Indian paan at the New York City Wine and Food Festival and discussed bringing paan to fine dining with James Beard Award-winning chef Vijay Kumar on 23 October. In 2025, he was invited to the Culinary Crossroads event in New York, and the brand brought its signature paan to Bungalow New York’s first anniversary celebration, marking its seventh consecutive year supporting the India Day Parade in New York City.
Also in 2025, Mr.Paanwala expanded its support for rural education in Rajasthan, India through GlobalGiving, served as walk partner sponsor of the BAPS Charities Lansdale Walk and Run in Pennsylvania, and renewed its Philadelphia Warhawks cricket sponsorship for the 2025 to 2026 season. It also supported the 16th annual Taste of India Festival in Virginia, which drew more than 12,000 attendees, and joined Diwali Dance Fest in Orlando, Florida as a featured vendor of Jashn Productions. In 2021 Mehul Patel was honored as Gujarati Entrepreneur of New Jersey and New York State.
About Mr.Paanwala and Media Contact
Mr.Paanwala is a tobacco-free paan brand founded in 2009 by Mehul Patel and based in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, known as the Paan King of USA.
Mehul Patel, Mr.Paanwala
Email info@mrpaanwala.com
Website https://mrpaanwala.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.paanwala/
Designed by Rang Digitech LLC