Residents of Delhi and National Capital Region are in for a treat as they can now enjoy a variety of delectable and delicious food dishes from different parts of India. These are available at the Saras Food Festival 2022 which was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Faggan Singh Kulaste, yesterday, October 28.

The festival is indeed special and unique, symbolising women’s empowerment as self-help groups of women — formed under the flagship programme National Rural Livelihoods Mission of the Ministry — are participating in it. Women entrepreneurs and members of SHG from 18 States are taking part in this event providing them the opportunity to showcase their culinary skills and introducing people to the food culture of India. These women are proficient in making rural products and preparing traditional dishes of their States.

Visitors to the festival got a chance to taste varied cuisines including kair sagari, gatte ki sabzi, bajra roti from Rajasthan, Hilsa fish curry from West Bengal, chicken from Telangana, Malabar biryani from Kerala, litti chokha from Bihar, sarson da saag and makki ki roti from Punjab and other well-known food items from States. Dishes from Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat can also be enjoyed at this festival.

Besides enjoying these dishes, visitors were keen to know how different types of food from across the States are being prepared.

While inaugurating this festival, the Minister also launched the e-commerce portal www.esaras.in for better and more effective marketing of Saras products prepared by women of SHGs. He also met members of women’s SHGs and appreciated their products.

The festival which is on till November 10, is being held at New Delhi’s Handicraft Bhawan, Connaught Place.