Meghalaya Showcases Culinary Heritage with City in Your City and Fire and Feast Festival
Meghalaya promotes its rich culinary heritage through two unique initiatives across India from October 2026 to February 2027.
New Delhi, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : Meghalaya’s tourism department, in collaboration with Meghalaya’s agency and the ‘City Movement’, is set to promote the state’s culinary heritage through two unique initiatives: ‘City in Your City’ and the ‘Fire and Feast Festival’. These events will take place from October 2026 to February 2027 across various cities in India, featuring 14 food programs aimed at introducing new visitors to Meghalaya’s indigenous ingredients, culinary traditions, and food communities.
The festivities will kick off on October 22, 2026, in Bengaluru with an event titled ‘Tribal Expressions’. This gathering will celebrate the indigenous food cultures of the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes, allowing guests to experience Meghalaya’s culinary heritage through traditional ingredients, regional cooking techniques, and food-related stories. Following its launch in Bengaluru, the initiative will tour Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Kolkata, with plans for additional events across the country.
The ‘Fire and Feast Festival’ takes a different approach, focusing on barbecue, live-fire cooking, music, and community activities. Despite their differing formats, both initiatives share a common goal: to elevate Meghalaya’s food culture beyond the Northeast and establish lasting connections with people across India. The festival will host public food events in cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Mumbai, and Gurugram.
Dr. Vijay Kumar, the commissioner and secretary of the tourism department, emphasized the importance of taking Meghalaya’s culinary heritage to cities across India. He stated that this initiative aims to create a platform for cultural exchange and enhance recognition of the state’s indigenous ingredients, traditional knowledge, and local talent. He sees this as an opportunity to boost the state’s visibility while ensuring that local communities remain at the heart of the narrative.
The events will feature a talented group of chefs and culinary experts from Meghalaya, including Nambi Jessica Marak, the first runner-up of MasterChef India Season 8 and a cultural ambassador for the state. Alongside other renowned local chefs, they will bring Meghalaya’s culinary experiences to life during ‘City in Your City’ and ‘Fire and Feast Festival’.
The ‘Fire and Feast Festival’ will also include pitmaster and barbecue expert Christopher Fernandes, along with restaurant owner and hospitality entrepreneur Rizwan Amalani. Notable restaurants like Rinson and Shad Sky, as well as traditional cooks from the Myalim region, will present special showcases celebrating Meghalaya’s unique ingredients, regional flavors, and culinary traditions.
Sid Mawara from The Big Forkers expressed the aim of moving Meghalaya from a distant tourist destination to a place where visitors can connect with its food, people, and the stories behind them. While ‘City in Your City’ creates an intimate atmosphere for exploration, the ‘Fire and Feast Festival’ aims to reach a broader audience, together providing a platform for the state’s culinary traditions across India.
Priyadarshini Raje Scindia remarked that food is the most personal way to understand a place. She noted that in Meghalaya, culinary traditions are deeply intertwined with the land, communities, and generations of knowledge. Through ‘City in Your City’ and ‘Fire and Feast Festival’, the hope is to bring these traditions to audiences across India and recognize the people who keep them alive. She expressed hope that these experiences will encourage people to look beyond their familiar circles and discover Meghalaya through its food, people, and stories.
