The Punjab Festival 26th September to 10th November 2005

Perhaps, it would be appropriate to call it the land of Plenty!! The fertility of its fields and the richness of its dairy have been the envy of the sub-continent and it being named as the granary of India.

Punjab – this side of the border or that – is situated at the crossroads of the Silk Route. This allowed the Punjabis – Sikh, Hindu and Muslim –to imbibe diverse culinary influences. They tasted the best of the rest before anyone else on the sub-continent. The proximity with Persia, Afghanistan and Central Asia also gave them a taste for fresh and dried fruits and exotic nuts. Tandoori, an integral part of Punjabi cooking has evolved as one of the most popular global cooking techniques.

The emphasis has traditionally been on robust, food, grains and vegetables in their basic form, prepared with the simplest of ingredients and basic techniques. The food continues to be robust with a premium on quality and purity. This is what the undivided Punjab took pride in. More