Vaisakhi, the traditional harvest festival, is celebrated with great gaiety in Punjab and across the border. The bonhomie, the food and folk music to mark this festival in undivided Panjab had to be seen to be believed.
To recreate the magic of the era gone by, Delhi-based restaurant ikk Panjab, is hosting a 15-day Vaisakhi festival from 1st – 14th April this year.
The festival will serve guests a selection of dishes from East and West Panjab to the accompaniment of traditional folk music and dances. This fest will be on from 12 noon to midnight with meals for two costing around INR 1,200/- plus taxes approximately.
According to Rajan Sethi, MD, ikk Panjab, “The festival is an effort to create the verve and mirth signified by the Vaisakhi, which is seldom seen these days. Above the food and decor, we wished to recreate the spirit of the by-gone era for our patrons”.
For most people, savouring traditional Panjabi delicacies was limited to Makki ki Roti or Butter Chicken. However, this cuisine has a vast repertoire.
To do justice to the cuisine, several vegetarian and non vegetarian signature dishes from Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan (West Panjab), Ludhiana, Jallandhar, Patiala, Ropar and Amritsar (East Panjab) will be offered during the food festival. These include dishes like Lahori Kukkadi Chargha, Panner Multani Rahra Masala and Kunna Ghosht.
To lend an ethnic ambience that reflects the culture of old Panjab, the restaurant has used parandian fans, wheat grains, phulkari, kaintha and earth colours on the walls while servers will don salwar kurta. To further enliven the guests’ dining experience, the staff will do impromptu Bhangra performances with Punjabi folk music playing in the background.
