Union Minister for Rural Development, and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the Saras Aajeevika Food Festival 2025 tomorrow (1 December 2025) at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi. On this occasion, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt Annapurna Devi, will be present as the Guest of Honour. Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Shri Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, and Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan, will also attend as distinguished guests.

At this festival, citizens of Delhi will once again experience a vibrant glimpse of Indian culture and cuisine at Sunder Nursery. Around 300 ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (women entrepreneurs) and women from Self-Help Groups from 25 states across the country are participating in the Saras Food Festival through 62 stalls. The festival, which will run till 9 December 2025, is being organised at Sunder Nursery, Bharat Scouts and Guides Marg, Nizamuddin, near Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi. The Food Festival will remain open to visitors from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Saras Food Festival 2025 is a unique example of women’s empowerment being showcased in the national capital. Its objective is not only to familiarise people with the country’s diverse food culture but also to inspire other rural women. Under the Ministry of Rural Development’s flagship programme, the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, women from self-help groups across the country have developed strong skills in producing rural products as well as in preparing traditional dishes from their respective states.

Through the Saras Food Festival, people from Delhi and neighbouring states will be able to witness the confluence of cultures and flavours from 25 states. They will also get an opportunity to learn about the social fabric of these states, discover their famous dishes and enjoy their taste. Of the 62 stalls at the festival, 50 will serve live food, while 12 stalls will offer natural food products.

This edition of the Food Festival will offer visitors the chance to savour more than 500 dishes. These will include, among others, Himachali siddu, tandoor tea of Uttarakhand, the famous kalari kulcha of Jammu & Kashmir, Hyderabadi dum biryani, North Eastern momos, Bengali fried fish, Rajasthan’s ker sangri, gatte ki sabzi and bajra roti, West Bengal’s hilsa fish curry, chicken from Telangana, Malabar biryani from Kerala, litti chokha from Bihar, and Punjab’s sarson ka saag with makki ki roti, along with many other delicious specialties from various states. States such as Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat, among others, are also participating.

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MS