Top Food Festivals in India: A Gastronomic Extravaganza

India's top food festivals - Hashtag magazine

India is known for its diverse culinary heritage. Throughout the year, the country hosts a variety of food festivals that showcase the vibrant flavours, aromas, and traditions of its various regions. From street food festivals to extravagant gatherings, these festivals offer an immersive experience in India’s culinary world. Dhanush Kumar presents some of the top food festivals in India that every food lover must explore.

Pushkar Fair Food Festival, Rajasthan

The Pushkar Fair Food Festival is a culinary extravaganza that takes place alongside the famous Pushkar Camel Fair. This festival offers a unique blend of traditional Rajasthani cuisine and diverse culinary delights across India. From Rajasthani thalis to mouth-watering street food, this festival allows visitors to embark on a flavourful journey.

International Mango Festival, Delhi

The International Mango Festival is held in Delhi, a paradise for mango lovers. The festival showcases over 500 varieties of mangoes from different parts of India. Visitors can savour mango-based dishes, desserts, and drinks while participating in mango-eating competitions and interactive sessions with horticulturists. This festival is a testament to India’s love affair with mangoes.

Savor Kolkata Food Festival, Kolkata

Kolkata, the city of joy is known for its rich culinary traditions. The city hosts the Savor Kolkata Food Festival which is a celebration of the city’s diverse gastronomic delights. From tasty street food like puchka and kathi rolls to iconic Bengali sweets like rasgulla and sandesh. This festival offers a delectable feast for the taste buds. Visitors can also explore traditional Bengali recipes, culinary workshops, and cultural performances.

Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland provides a platform to showcase the vibrant culinary traditions of the Northeast region. Visitors can savour famous Naga delicacies like smoked pork, bamboo shoot curries, and fermented soybean dishes. This festival also features traditional Naga games, music, and dance performances. It is a fantastic opportunity for food enthusiasts to delve into the lesser-known cuisines of Northeast India.

Ziro Festival of Music and Food, Arunachal Pradesh

The Ziro Festival of Music and Food is held in the most beautiful Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh and is a unique combination of music, nature, and culinary delights. Alongside the enchanting music performances by local and international artists, this festival also showcases the diverse food culture of the region. Visitors can relish traditional Apatani dishes, tribal delicacies, and organic produce while immersing themselves in the vibrant music scene.

Conclusion

India’s top food festivals not only tantalise the taste buds but also provide an immersive cultural experience. These festivals showcase the country’s diverse culinary heritage and offer a glimpse into the regional flavours and traditions.

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Hunaaan Indiranagar: A Contemporary Pan-Asian Dining Experience

From bold spices that make you question every meal you’ve ever had to dishes that taste like they’ve travelled the world, Hunaaan delivers flavours that refuse to play it safe. Neha Dua gives a lowdown of the place. This contemporary Pan-Asian restaurant in Indiranagar packs the heat of Thai food, the heartiness of Korean cuisine, delicate Japanese dishes, and wholesome Chinese fare. Step into the 40-seater cosy place for a meal that will slap you awake and then lull you into a food coma. Plates exploding with personality Not having sushi here would be nothing short of criminal. The Ebi Tempura and Avocado Maki is everything one expects from Japanese cuisine. The prawn tempura comes alive in a riot of colours and flavours. Vegetarians, fret not, you can indulge in the Avocado Garden. Their dumplings are delectable, with very fine wrappers and perfectly balanced flavours. The Chilli Coriander Chicken Dumpling is a sight for sore eyes and hits you with a kind of balanced chaos that you can’t have enough of. And if you like your dumplings soupy, the Basil Flavoured Curry Dumpling won’t disappoint. Raise a glass to excellence A smooth Virgin Pina Colada, featuring creamy coconut milk, has the potential to teleport you to a tropical destination, while the Soju Picanté, a Hunaaan Signature Cocktail, is aptly described as “Everything you want from a picanté: Spicy, lemony, and we dare you to have just one.” Shaken. Stirred. Sipped. A little oink, a little sugar, and a lot of swagger Hunaaan’s imported pork belly deserves a mention. Doesn’t melt in your mouth, but is definitely less fatty than several other places. If you’re a tofu fan, don’t skip the tofu sizzler. But be prepared to share it with one or two others, for the portion size is HUGE. Although

Pure Kitchen to SOL55: Café Hops Across India

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Bangalore is often known for its weather, start-up culture, and (unfortunately) traffic. Let’s throw another iconic thing into this mix: Kai Bar and Kitchen. Located on the thirteenth floor in the heart of the city, this rooftop restaurant feels like an escape pod from the city below. Once you step off the elevator, the noisy streets become a thing of the past, as you get ready to indulge in an “elevated” dining experience. Allow NEHA DUA to walk you through it. The exceptional use of natural light makes the already spacious interiors look even larger and more open. The retractable glass ceiling, coupled with the relaxed atmosphere, creates an inviting vibe, perfect for indulging in a sobremesa that lasts hours! Their special fixed lunch menu, aptly named Zenith, is proof that great food tastes even better with a view. It comprises a thoughtfully curated selection of Asian, Continental, Oriental, and Mediterranean influences. Five courses, five moments You would expect the prices to be as sky-high as the view, but they are unbelievably down-to-earth. Zenith offers two options in its fixed menu: a three-course meal priced at 999 and a five-course meal priced at 1299. Plus taxes, of course. We highly recommend the latter, because the more the better, right? Soups, salads, dimsums, sushi, appetizers, large plates, and desserts. Gotta have ‘em all. The Smoked Chicken Salad, with baby arugula, dressed to perfection with a yuzu vinaigrette, feels fresh and is quite the looker. The Togarashi Crispy Lamb seemed a little too crisp, but felt familiar and comforting in its own right. Vegetarians, you will probably love the Edamame Dumplings and Green Paradise Sushi, both offering a symphony of flavours. A very special mention here to the Chocolate and Cranberry Cookie Dough Tart with Mascarpone Cream. Decadent yet subtle, the berries’

Top New Restaurant Menus in Mumbai and Delhi

What: New menu at Vanilla Beans Where: Bandra, Mumbai Vanilla Beans, Mumbai’s premium eggless patisserie, has launched its New Strawberry Menu, celebrating the city’s strawberry season with fresh, handcrafted creations. Known for its artisanal, made-to-order desserts, the Bandra-based brand founded by mother-son duo Deepa and Rohit Desai continues to champion seasonal produce through layered textures and bold flavour pairings. This year, alongside its cult-favourite Nutella Strawberry Cake (also available in single-serve tubs from ₹250), Vanilla Beans introduces two new highlights: the Nutella Strawberry Krispy Kunafa, made with imported kataifi and homemade pistachio paste for a delicate crunch, and the Nutella Strawberry Crunchy Crumble, featuring a buttery crumble over creamy Nutella and fresh strawberries. The expanded collection also includes Belgian Dark Chocolate Strawberry, Biscoff Strawberry, and Strawberry Cheesecake, with vegan and sugar-free options across cakes, bentos, and tubs. What: KampaiWhere: New Delhi Kampai, one of Delhi’s most prominent modern Japanese restaurants under TasteShop Pvt. Ltd., celebrates its seventh anniversary with a first-of-its-kind feedback-driven menu. Known for its authentic flavours and warm hospitality, the brand invited loyal diners and 10 leading food enthusiasts to co-create its refreshed culinary direction. Guided by the Kampai chef team, months of tastings and guest review sheets shaped a dynamic new menu that blends Japanese classics with contemporary Asian influences. The revamped selection introduces bold additions such as Sandos, Sushi Tacos, Crispy Nori Bites, Prawn Sesame Toast and Cornets, all enhanced with Japanese condiments and house-made sauces. Desserts see a dramatic upgrade too, featuring a Pull-Up Cake, Cotton Cheesecake, and the much-awaited Mochi in signature flavours. With locations in Aerocity and Vasant Kunj, Kampai continues to pair minimal Japanese aesthetics with a vibrant social dining atmosphere marking a new chapter fuelled by community, creativity, and collaboration. What: SumaWhere: MumbaiSuma, Mumbai’s newest fine-dining destination by S.P. Motles, founded

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