Taste India's Diversity at Andaman Food Fest

The Tourism Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is hosting a vibrant three-day ‘Cuisines of India Festival’ starting this Friday, according to an official statement. Food aficionados will get the chance to savor a diverse array of regional and local dishes at the event, which is being held at the Island Tourism Festival Pavilion in Port Blair.

Jyoti Kumari, the Tourism Secretary, noted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are often referred to as 'mini India' because of the blend of cultures resulting from the settlement of people from various states, both before and after independence. This festival offers visitors the opportunity to experience a wide gamut of India's culinary diversity under one roof.

The festival will be accessible to the public from 4 pm to 10 pm from Friday to Sunday.

One particularly enticing feature of the event will be the participation of the Nicobari tribal community. They will be showcasing some of their exquisite and rare recipes such as ‘Kinsola’ (a sweet steamed Gujia), Sabaline tea (black tea with lemongrass), and Hilu-o Hipu (a steamed banana and coconut sweet confectionery) through live kitchen demonstrations.

Complementing the culinary offerings, orchestra performances will take place each day from 6 pm to 8 pm.

This festival aims not only to celebrate the rich diversity of Indian cuisine but also to encourage healthy eating, enhance traditional culinary knowledge, and promote a spirit of community. It provides a platform for local talent and budding entrepreneurs in the culinary field.

The tourism department encourages all residents, tourists, and food enthusiasts to partake in this unique celebration of India’s culinary riches. To support emerging culinary entrepreneurs, the festival will award cash prizes of Rs 10,000, Rs 8,000, and Rs 5,000 to the top three stalls. These awards will be judged based on criteria like creativity, presentation, cleanliness, and theme-based decoration.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)