Dehradun: Uttarakhand is hosting the 10th World Ayurveda Congress, and the state government has arranged nutrient-rich hilly food items for the delegates. Guests from India and abroad have praised the Uttarakhandi dishes prepared with hill-grown grains like Mandua and Jhangora.
Moreover, delegates from across the country and the world have expressed their admiration for the hilly food at the World Ayurveda Congress, noting that Pahadi cuisine offers both taste and nutrition. These nutritious hilly foods will be served daily according to the menu during this four-day event.
Afra, a guest from Israel said “Mandua, Jhangora are very tasty”
Afra from Israel, adorned in a Uttarakhandi cap, is enjoying a plate filled with hilly food items: Manduwa roti, homemade butter, jhangora kheer, and gahat dal. Tasting each item, she expressed her delight, saying, “Manduwa and jhangora are very tasty.”
Afra, who has travelled from war-torn Israel to India for the special World Ayurveda Congress, is seated at the dining table with her colleague Bhagwan Swaroop Verma. She is thoroughly satisfied with the event, especially praising the hill food. She remarked on the global recognition of the benefits of millets and, in broken Hindi, said, “Hill food is tasty and nutritious too.”
Guests savouring Pahadi items, became fan of it
Another delegate, Bhagwan Swaroop Verma, who has been living in Israel for 35 years and works to promote Ayurveda, hails from Agra. He shared that he has enjoyed Pahadi food before and always looks forward to eating it again. Vaidya Pankaj Kumar Singh from Kanpur tried Pahadi food for the first time in Dehradun and has become an instant fan. He mentioned that he had heard much about it and was delighted by the taste.
Prof. Brahananda Mahapatra from Orissa, a retired principal, has always appreciated Pahadi food for its nutritional value. Dr. Jaiprakash Pandey from Lucknow, a retired Ayurvedic officer, has a longstanding connection with Uttarakhand. During his tenure in UP, he used to bring Chamba Rajma to Lucknow, which was loved by his family.
Government’s Emphasis on Promotion of Hill Food
The Uttarakhand government is focusing on promoting hill food items. During the planning of the World Ayurveda Congress, it was decided that hill food would be served to delegates, widely promoting these traditional foods. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized that efforts are being made to brand hill food and other products of Uttarakhand.
