Naga cuisine is a runaway hit at Bangalore restaurant

Bangalore, May 20 (ANI): In India,food varies from region to region in a staggering manner, but this helps bring people together.

Nagaland is quite popular among food lovers in Bangalore.

Providing exposure to cuisine, music and culture of the northeast.

A private café in Bangalore has been organizing a series of events to create a space for discourse on the northeast region, through food festivals and musical evenings.

Recently, it organized a Naga food festival for residents of the city.

Cooked by authentic Naga chefs, the delicious cuisine was served in buffet style.

“It is very different, the food we have here, it is quite spicy, it was properly steamed and none of us had tasted the Naga food before, so it is nice to taste,” said Yogita, a visitor.

“Well I would say that it’s a great opportunity for us to have home food at Bangalore, and we must appreciate the Ants have done things and made it possible that we could have our own food and not only Nagas but we can share it with the Bangalore people also and it is good to be connected with people also,” said Aranth, a visitor.

Smoked meat and fish, pork meat with bamboo shoot, Vunenuo or Special stew chicken were some of the Naga dishes that were appreciated in the southern city.

The Nagas in Bangalore city also enjoyed the feast.

The café has plans for more such events to popularize the cuisine, music and culture of northeast.

“Based on the response of people, eventually it is our plan to serve the Northeastern food here. This time it’s Naga, likewise there are other states also like Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, so they have their indigenous cuisines and we would like to showcase them,” said Pradip, an organizer

“I think it’s like a second home to us, because we are able to have same food. I think people should try to come out more of their homes because when they come out more they see things outside their home and learn a lot about different cultures,” said Asan, a visitor.

The cultural diversity of India is amazing. It is this variety that is a special hallmark of the country. What is even more amazing is how India celebrates this diversity with great enthusiasm. (ANI)

Kerala kite festival lures international kite-flyers

Kozhikode (Kerala), May 3 (ANI): Kerala first ever kite festival is luring international kite-flyers to Kozhikode.

The three-day event was organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council of Kozhikode and the Kappad Destination Management Council.

It started from Saturday and will continue till today.

“We have got Indonesians, UK, South Korea, Malaysia, Kuwait, Thailand, Dubai, Saudi Arabia kite-flyers …these are the people who are around,” said Shaukat Ali, the Overseas Coordinator of the India International Kite Festival.

Along with participants from outside India, the festival has attracted many locals as well, he added.

A participant from UK, Dary Koon said the festival has provided a break for everyone from their busy lives.

“I think it is very important…it”s not always obvious, but kite-flying is something you do outside of your working life. This is the extra that you work on for. So, you concentrate on the week, or maybe the weekend for work, and earn the money to live but then at the weekend you can indulge in your hobby. With me, it is actually a passion and not a hobby,” said Koon.

The event also included kite-making workshops, a food festival, and cultural events on all the three days.

Seeing the enormous response, the organisers and the tourism department have decided to make the event an annual event in Kerala. (ANI)

India Week and Indian Food Festival on in Kazakhstan

Astana (Kazakhstan), Sep.9 (ANI): The Embassy of India in Kazakhstan has organized an “India Week and Food Festival” in Astana and Almaty from September 8 to 18 in collaboration with the Rixos President Hotel Astana, Intercontinental Hotel Almaty and Air Astana as part of its continued efforts to promote people-to-people contacts and strengthen bilateral relations between India and Kazakhstan.

India’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ashok Sajjanhar, Kairat Sarybai, Assistant to Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Akan Bizhanov, Member of Parliament (Senate) addressed the gathering of about 100 specially invited guests.

The inaugural ceremony included several VIPS.

In his inaugural address, Ambassador Sajjanhar informed the gathering that the week-long Food Festival in Astana and Almaty are initiatives by the Indian Embassy to further strengthen relations between India and Kazakhstan and increase understanding and cooperation between the two peoples through the wonderful medium of good food.

He underlined that this year has been eventful and momentous in India-Kazakhstan bilateral relations.

Ambassador Sajjanhar expressed confidence that relations between the two countries will improve significantly as a result of these initiatives.

He also welcomed a delegation of 12 leading tour operators from India who are presently in Kazakhstan through the courtesy of Air Astana to promote relations in the area of tourism between the two countries.

Kairat Sarybai underlined the importance of further improving the growing bilateral relations between the two countries. He fondly recounted his visit to India with President Nazarbayev in January 2009. Senator Akan Bizhanov underlined the cultural relations between India and Kazakhstan.

A graceful Odissi dance performance by Ms. Nurgul Amirbekova, a Kazakhstani artiste who studied Indian classical dance in Delhi for three years under scholarship from the ICCR added colour and splendour to the event.

The Embassy also displayed Indian Objects d’Arts, tourist information materials, and Indian books including recipe books at the venue. After the conclusion of the official function the guests were treated to a variety of exotic Indian food delicacies.

The Embassy has invited a team of four leading chefs headed by Mr. Marut Sikka to organize the Indian Food Festival in Kazakhstan. They will be delighting gourmands and connoisseurs of authentic Indian delicacies during the five-day long Food Festival, both in Astana and Almaty.

The inaugural event was widely covered in the Kazakh media.

The inauguration of India Week and Indian Food Festival in Almaty will be held on September 14 at Intercontinental Hotel and will last till September 18. (ANI)

Heather Mills demonstrates her cooking skills in Sussex

London, May 18 (ANI): Charity campaigner Heather Mills recently demonstrated her cooking skills on a weekend at Sussex.

“I’ll be coming in on Sundays, making my speciality of all the roast potatoes, parsnips, all the veg and gravy,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

The former wife of Paul McCartney-dressed in apron, trousers, and atop tottering wedge heels-confidently displayed her cooking skills.

Heather prepared a meat-free “beefy” stir-fry, “chicken” curry, and sweet-corn chowder on a stage at a food festival in Brighton.

She looked calm and confident even when a member of the audience shouted out that he could smell her stir-fry burning.

She just retorted by saying: “Not true”. (ANI)

Heather Mills demonstrates her cooking skills in Sussex

London, May 18 (ANI): Charity campaigner Heather Mills recently demonstrated her cooking skills on a weekend at Sussex.

“I’ll be coming in on Sundays, making my speciality of all the roast potatoes, parsnips, all the veg and gravy,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

The former wife of Paul McCartney-dressed in apron, trousers, and atop tottering wedge heels-confidently displayed her cooking skills.

Heather prepared a meat-free “beefy” stir-fry, “chicken” curry, and sweet-corn chowder on a stage at a food festival in Brighton.

She looked calm and confident even when a member of the audience shouted out that he could smell her stir-fry burning.

She just retorted by saying: “Not true”. (ANI)

Agra gears up for ‘Taj Mahotsava’

Agra, Feb 17 (ANI): Preparations are on in full swing for the “Taj Mahotsav”, the ten-day annual festival at Shilpgram near the Taj Mahal.

Bedecked elephants and camels, drum beaters, folk artists and master craftsmen together would recreate the glorious past of the Mughal era ambiance during the carnival that kick starts every year on February 18.

The Taj Mahotsav will display the country’s extensive arts, crafts and culture besides folk music, and classical dance performances as well as elephant and camel rides, games and a food festival, all forming part of the festivities.

“Our art, culture, music, dance and other such heritage forms from across India are showcased during this festival. Manipur’s traditional dance, classical music like Ghazals and Sufi songs would also be there,” said Shravan Kumar Sharma, Commissioner, Agra.

Organised by the state tourism department every year to promote tourism in and around Agra, the festival is truly India at her best with a glimpse of her rich heritage and extraordinary legacies.

“Agra has been hosting the festival for years together now. The festival finds a mention in both national and international festivals. Tour operators promote this event and tourists like to come here to take part in this festival year after year,” said Ashok Goyal, a district administrator.

This year, over 1500 artists would be performing during the festival. There would be around 217 performances.

State authorities said the Taj festival has been designed to be a complete tourism event in itself.

Traditional folk musicians, performing at the gateway to the “Shilpgram”, welcome the visitors.

The majestic Taj Mahal forms the backdrop of the festival. (ANI)