Srinagar, Jul 8 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department will organise a three-day traditional food festival in Srinagar from July 9 to showcase the Union Territory's rich culinary heritage and promote food-based tourism, officials said on Tuesday.
The festival will be held at Zabarwan Park on the banks of Dal Lake and will bring together cuisines from different regions and communities of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kashmiri, Dogra, Gujjar-Bakarwal, Pahari and the Chenab Valley.
Officials said the event is aimed at promoting traditional food culture by providing a platform for indigenous recipes, local ingredients and age-old culinary practices while highlighting the close relationship between food, culture, history and tourism.
The festival will witness participation from local chefs, home cooks, hotels, restaurants, women's self-help groups, food entrepreneurs and artisans, who will showcase a wide range of traditional dishes and locally produced food items.
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Visitors will also get to experience live cooking demonstrations, food tasting sessions, cultural performances and exhibitions during the three-day event, they said.
According to the officials, the initiative is expected to boost culinary tourism, encourage the use of local produce and create livelihood opportunities for farmers, artisans, food processors and small entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth.
The department expects the festival to draw a large number of local residents, domestic and foreign tourists, besides culinary experts and other stakeholders, further promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a destination known for its diverse food traditions and cultural heritage.(KNS).