| Hakim Hayat |
A FOOD festival and handicrafts bazaar themed ‘Hyderabad in Brunei’ was launched yesterday, giving the public a taste of India’s Hyderabadi and Avadhi cuisine and a selection of products from south-central India.
Organised by the High Commission of India in Brunei Darussalam, the event at the Rizqun International Hotel was inaugurated by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
Indian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, Nagma Mohamed Mallick, in a speech highlighted the history and culture of Hyderabad and explained how its rich and unique cuisine developed in the royal and aristocratic kitchens of the state over two centuries. She then detailed the contemporary significance of Hyderabad, including it being a centre for Indian cinema and one of the two most important IT hubs of India.
The three-day event, she said is part of the States’ Promotion Initiative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to showcase trade, tourism and investment potential of the states of India.
She also mentioned that Hyderabad is likely to be one of the Indian cities to which the Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) could launch a direct flight to. Therefore, she is sharing all the varied delights of the city and its region to Bruneians.
Specialists in Hyderabadi and Avadhi cuisine Sanjay B Dasari, Senior Sous Chef; and Tara Dutt Bhatt, Demi Chef De Partie from the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi are leading the food festival. Eleven exhibitors and artisans of handicrafts from the State of Telangana in South-Central India are displaying their crafts for sale ranging from sarees, bangles, leather goods, lacquer items, bidriware or damascened metal objects to pearl jewelleries.
The event is open to the public until tomorrow.
