Food festivals of India are a vibrant representation of the myriad tastes of the country, complete with the exclusive delicacies and food-items belonging to the Indian states. Such festive events offer lip-smacking, delicious food, snacks, main courses food items, desserts and various kinds of food preparations with fruits, desserts and a host of several other ingredients to its visitors. Some of the celebrated food festivals of India include International Mango Festival in Delhi, Sea Food Festival in West Bengal, Gujarati Food Festival, etc., which are thronged by innumerable food connoisseurs and tourists from across the country.
The food festivals of the country reflect the diverse cultures and traditions prevalent in the nation, which find expression through its large variety of regional cuisines of the nation. Unique flavours of local cuisines of India creeps its way into these impressive and extremely tempting food festivals, compelling its visitors to indulge in some of the most delectable food dishes.
International Mango Festival
Organised in Delhi, the International Mango Festival is a grand event which continues for two days during summer which exhibits over 550 variations of mangoes which involve `chorasya`, `malda`, `shamasi`, `himsagar`, `balia`, `dhoon`, `nigarin kheria`, `ruchika`, `mallika`, `amrapali`, `fazia`, `alphonso`, `gelchia`, `dhaman` and many others. The Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) arranges this festival in coordination with the National Horticultural Board, New Delhi Municipal Corporation and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. Famous chefs from luxury restaurants and hotels in India contribute towards the preparation of tasty food dishes and recipes all made from mangoes. Cultural performances and competitions like mango slogan writing and mango eating contests for ladies are essential parts of the festival.
Street Food Festival of Delhi
The national capital of Delhi observes the immensely popular Street Food Festival, which exhibits a wide variety of magnificent foodstuffs that include `Dal Bati Churma`, `Mewa ki Kachori`, `Pyaj ki Kachori`, etc from Rajasthan, `Makki Di Roti aur Sarson ka Saag`, `Amritsari Naan`, `Chhole Bhature` and others from Punjab, `Pyaj Lahsun ka Kheer` and `Korma` from Uttar Pradesh, variations of `Laddoo`, `Thepla`, `Khakra`, `Dhokla`, etc from Gujarat, rice cake from Assam, `Peetha`, `Kakar Cake` and `Shorba` from Odisha, `Butter Dosa` from Kerala, `Mochar Chop`, `Rasgulla`, `Payas Sandesh`, etc. from West Bengal, `Chhena Jalebi`, `Maalpua`, and other items from Bihar, `Momos` and `Thukpas` from Sikkim, `Double ka Meetha` from Andhra Pradesh, `Khoya ki Jalebi`, `Uttapam` and several others. Delhi boasts of producing some of the most well-known food dishes like `Soyabeen Chaap`, `Palak Pulao`, `Tawa Roti`, `Malai Chaap`, `Chhole Bhature`, `Golgappe`, `Paneer ka Tikka`, `Pav Bhaji`, `Dahi Bhalla`, `Moong Daal Chilla`, `Dahi Papri` and numerable non vegetarian items, which are offered at the Delhi Street Food Festival.
Kashmir Food Festival
Delicious, spice foodstuffs, accompanied by a mild taste and very little salt, particularly non-vegetarian items were amongst the main food attractions of the Kashmir Food Festival which is celebrated in the month of January. It continues for a period of ten days. The various culinary delights of Kashmir are introduced in this food festival of this northern Indian state. Kashmiri platters are enriched with superbly delicious dishes like `Aloo Choora`, `Surkh Angeri Paneer Tikki`, `Nadru ka Choorma`, `Akhrot ki Chutney`, `Badam Subz Shorba` (soup), `Bhodarwa Rajma`, `Chyoke Wangan`, `Mutter Mushroom`, `Madhur Pulao` or sweet rice, `Sada Chawal`, `Kashmiri Lavasa Bread`, `Paneer Kaliyan` and others. Though the regional inhabitants of Kashmir are not quite fond of sweets, Kashmiri Food Festival is also a spectator to the preparation of sweet dishes like `Halwa` and `Rasmalai`. `Kahva` or green tea, which is a popular health drink of Kashmir is also offered in this festival. Spices like saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, etc are employed to add to the tastes of the various food items.
Gujarati Food Festival
Every year, an elaborate food festival is organised in the western Indian state of Gujarat, known as the Gujarati Food Festival which bears testimony to the wide combination of Gujarati food dishes which comprise `Jalebi`, `Rabri`, `Methi Muthiya`, `Bhindi Sambhariya`, `Surti Dal`, `Gujarati Kachori`, `Gujarati Kadi`, and a series of other amazingly wonderful delights which are exclusive to this Indian state. Chefs of renowned hotels and restaurants of Gujarat participate with enthusiasm in the Gujarati Food Festival.
Bangalore Restaurant Week Festival
Bangalore Restaurant Week Festival is an interesting food festival which is observed in the city of Bangalore, Karnataka. A vast number of chefs belonging to different restaurants as well as food lovers from Bengaluru readily participate in this recurring food festival. In the year 2010, Bengaluru witnessed the celebration of one of the grandest food festivals of the country, in which about 74 restaurants enjoyed active participation in numerous festival events associated to it. Many shopping malls also played a crucial role in the Bangalore Restaurant Week Festival. Various types of contests, quizzes and competitions were held during this impressive food festival of Bengaluru. Expert chefs had been invited as judges for the numerable contests.
Sea Food Festival of West Bengal
A great Sea Food Festival is organised in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, especially in places like Digha, and other popular sea-beaches in this state. Various kinds of non-vegetarian foodstuffs are savoured by the tourists and food lovers who attend this famous Food Festival in West Bengal.