BHUJ, JAN 26 (KNS) ; A five-day winter festival in Gujarat's Kutch district concluded on Sunday, with the region's chilly weather fuelling a huge demand for Kashmiri vegetarian cuisine and hot saffron 'Kahwa' served from traditional samovars.
The Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) Winter Festival, which marked the crafts museum's 10th anniversary, saw participation from artisans and chefs from across India, including a stall from Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environmentalist and cultural activist who led the Kashmiri culinary team, told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) the cold wave, with night temperatures dipping to 9-10 degrees Celsius, made the hot beverages and food particularly popular among the thousands of visitors.
"Almost 300 to 400 people enjoyed the saffron Kahwa with dry fruits from copper samovars over the five days," Bhat told KNS.
He said his team introduced unique dishes like 'Rumah Chaat', 'Chana Badam Chaat', 'Bamchoonth Halwa' (Quince Apple halwa), and 'Saffron Shahi Tukda', which were well-received by the local populace.
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Unfortunately, our restaurants often serve Punjabi veg food to tourists. We have so much to offer, Bhat said, adding that he plans to publish a recipe book on Kashmiri vegetarian food with culinary innovations soon.
The festival, themed 'Unity in Diversity', also featured food stalls from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kutch itself. Organisers estimated a footfall of 40,000 to 50,000 people over the five days.
The LLDC, an initiative of the Shrujan Trust run by the Shroff family, is a noted institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional crafts of the Kutch region.
Alongside Bhat, team members Raashed Ashraf, Imran Khan Mutwa, Ramesh Mangeria, Rohit, and Zakaria were commended for their work by visitors and event organisers. (KNS)