Lucknow eyes Unesco's ‘city of gastronomy' tag
1
2
Lucknow: The City of Nawabs, known for its sumptuous kebabs and royal culinary traditions, is now vying for global recognition. Lucknow has been officially nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a "City of Gastronomy" — a title currently held by only one other Indian city, Hyderabad.
Confirming the development, Lucknow divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob said, "We have submitted our nomination, and additional data will be sent by the end of June. Post that, Unesco may conduct a field visit to verify our claims. Lucknow's culinary culture is not just historic—it's a living tradition passed down over centuries."
The nomination, coordinated by the state's department of tourism and culture, highlights the city's rich Awadhi fare—iconic dishes like Tunday kebabs, galawati, nihari, biryani, khasta, kulfi, and jalebi that have drawn food lovers from across the globe.
Heritage conservationist Abha Narain Lambah, appointed to prepare the Unesco dossier, noted, "Lucknow's gastronomic heritage was enriched by the royal kitchens of Awadh and continues to thrive across communities—from Brahmins and Baniyas to Kayasthas, Khattris and working-class families. The city offers a diverse culinary ecosystem, from legendary kebabs to humble khasta and puri-sabzi."
"Food Lucknow is a major food destination," she added.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Pessoas com dores no joelho devem fazer isto à noite
Saude News
Saiba Mais
Undo
Special secretary, tourism, Eesha Priya, said the application is now under review by the Union Ministry of Culture. "The blueprint prepared by Abha's team is detailed and data-backed. We're hopeful Lucknow will make the cut," she said.
Unesco's Creative Cities Network recognizes cities with vibrant cultural sectors. Globally, cities like Alba (Italy), Arequipa (Peru), Bergen (Norway), Belem (Brazil), and Bendigo (Australia) are already part of the list under the gastronomy category.
Experts say Lucknow offers a compelling case. "The artistry in Awadhi cooking—from the dum pukht technique to refined spice layering—is unmatched. Lucknow isn't just about food, it's about storytelling through cuisine," said Ahad Arshad, a local food chain operator.
Culinary expert Adil Hussain added, "Hyderabad may be known for its biryani and haleem, but Lucknow offers a deeper, more nuanced food journey—from Mughlai meats to street snacks.
It's a complete sensory experience."
Officials point out that while the city is celebrated for its non-vegetarian delights, vegetarian and sweet offerings are just as noteworthy. "Dishes like Bajpai ki Puri, Durga ke Khaste, Malai Paan, and Motichur ke Laddoo are integral to Lucknow's identity," said an officer involved in the bid.
With the final submission underway and Unesco assessment awaited, Lucknow could soon find itself on the world's gastronomic map—one kebab at a time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
24 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Readers' comments: Rejig Mumbai's train timetables, Aqua Line metro cost too much
This article is interesting and a much-needed issue has been discussed (' Mumbai Commuter Rail division: Some ideas on fixing the commercial capital's lifeline '). I have been living in Mumbai for the last 72 years and have been a Mumbai local commuter since 1971. The main problem with western and central railway is the time table and stoppages of fast trains. A large section of the population on the western line has moved beyond Borivali and there is a strong need to change the time table. My suggestions are: Start a shuttle between Borivali (platform number three) and Virar (platform number 1) with 15 minutes frequency. Make all Virar fast trains nonstop between Dadar and Bhayander Extend all Borivali fast trains to Bhayander/Vasai Road. This will ease crowding in Virar-bound trains, which is a major problem. – Ram Iyer *** The article mentions that the estimated cost for the 33.5 kilometre-long Aqua Line is Rs 37,276 crore, ie Rs 1,000 crore per route-kilometre. The thumb rule in construction of metro lines across the world, including all costs, is Rs 100 crore per route km for terrestrial lines, Rs 200 crore per route km for overhead lines and Rs.400 crores per km for underground lines. Therefore, we seem to have spent twice as much in building the Aqua Line. Moreover, with development of tunnel boring machine technology, building underground metro lines has become much more feasible and cheaper. It also enables easier alignment of routes and avoids land acquisition problems and disturbances to existing built up areas. This is one area which the article misses out. – Sushil Prasad Your article about Margarita Phipps and Harriet White Fisher was very interesting (' When cars were still rare, two US women decided to experience India from behind the wheel '). I am not familiar enough with Phipps to comment on her, but I must correct you about something in regards to Harriet Fisher. I have written a biography of Harriet Fisher which will be published later this year. You said Harriet drove around the world in her car and across India. Harriet certainly traveled around the world by car, including a long drive in India. She visited the people and places you mentioned, but she did not drive the car on the trip. She could drive and often drove in the United States and In Italy, where she maintained a large home on Lake Como. There is some indication she gave a demonstration ride in Calcutta to show Indian women that a woman could drive. That drive, if it actually happened, was only in the city, probably for no more than a few miles. All of the driving on the trip was done by Harold Fisher Brooks, a superintendent at Harriet's factory. Harriet herself confirmed this fact more than once and that information is documented in newspaper interviews. It is also documented in the diaries, letters, and journals that Brooks left behind. The actual number of miles driven on the world trip was closer to 20,000, although the exact mileage is unknown because the car's odometer was broken for a while. It's nice to see that someone remembers Harriet and wants your readers to know about her. – Frank Comstock Ruskin Bond at 90 Reading this excerpt felt like sitting beside a wise, gentle storyteller who still has a twinkle in his eye (' 'I am still writing for the lonely soul': At 91, Ruskin Bond looks back at his literary life '). Ruskin Bond's honesty about his love for writing, his reflections on the simple joys of life – like food and solitude – and his empathy for 'lonely souls' is deeply moving. What touched me the most is his determined commitment to writing, even at the age of 90. There's hope in knowing that his words continue to find their way into the hearts of readers who feel unseen or unheard. It's as if he writes not just to tell stories, but to tell the same unseen and unheard that he cares for them. This piece reminded me why I return to Ruskin Bond's writing time and again – it is gentle, profound, and human. – Irene Daniel Biased articles Please read the articles you publish (' Indus Water Treaty suspension: The dangerous consequences of hydro-politics '). This is one such example of fake-one sided opinions that dramatise the issue. Please refrain from publishing such articles and ensure careful editorial review. – Raj B Every piece of news has its own ideology to push onto the public (' Why are Bangladeshis turning against India? '). But it should also provide accurate information – for instance, all the financial aid India has provided to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi migrants are illegals, India must not accept them. The writer refers to the Babri Masjid, but I hope he studies what was in its place and why the masjid was built there. Then there is mention of Hindutva like it is a terrorist organisation. Any country where immigrants have contributed more are Indians or Hindutva people. It seems you don't like some religions. I hope you will change. – K Sai Manish Why not capitalise 'kathak'? This was a nice recap of a bygone era and artist, though there is one concern: why is Kathak with a small 'k' (' In a world consumed with innovation, Manjushree Chatterjee is the epitome of old-style kathak ')? Is it an editorial decision or are budding arts writers blindly following western dance politics and hegemony wherein 'western' dances like Flamenco or Salsa are mainstream (written with caps) but Asian or other non-western dance forms are in small letters? I'm told this happened largely because Western dictionaries, perhaps compiled by staffers with no clue of Indian or Asian cultural traditions, have in their wisdom decided Kathak or Bharatanatyam or Odissi are regional forms. Millions worldwide learn Kathak or Bharatanatyam, so by that logic Kathak or Bharatanatyam are a mainstream form now. My concerns are academic and cultural. – Ashish Mohan Khokar Corporate deception This is one of those classic cases (' Near Adani's Jharkhand power plant, villages still struggle for basic health, education '). Companies follow a common template of choosing remote places that lack basic amenities but have vast stretches of land, which are largely cultivable. As the landowners, often poor farmers, refuse to part with their assets, company representatives compel them into giving away their lands with promises that appear to address the villagers' basic needs. The promises are mostly verbal. This is the sorry state of affairs in our country where the poor continue to get poorer and the rich richer. – Srinjaya Bhattacharya Green energy, minerals The article sadly shows the 'bits-and-pieces' approach of the government towards solar energy, specially, in rural India '('There is no darkness now': Solar power helps India's health centres bridge infrastructure gap '). This results in multiple solar facilities across rural India to power pumps, healthcare facilities, schools and homes while ignoring the potential of rural India in the country's zero-pollution green energy transformation. The government must adapt a holistic approach to eliminate pollution while transforming energy access. – Ajay Goyal
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
3 Indian women kicked off US flight for arguing with flight attendant. Watch
Three women, apparently of Indian descent, were removed from a Spirit Airlines flight in the United States after a heated argument with a flight attendant. A video of the confrontation, posted on TikTok, has garnered over 4 million views in just a few days. The incident caused the flight to be delayed by over an hour until police arrived and escorted the women off the plane. has reached out to Spirit Airlines for a statement. This copy will be updated on receiving a response. A TikTok user, @khamisidrismoh, shared a video that shows the three women seated in a row while a flight attendant stands in the aisle during a disagreement. The women appear to be upset and accuse the crew member of not knowing the flight's destination. 'You don't know where the flight is going. First of all, you don't know…' one of the women is heard saying, after the attendant mistakenly claimed the flight was headed to New Orleans instead of New York. The flight attendant acknowledges her mistake, saying she misspoke when she said New Orleans. 'I'm sorry about that. That is my mistake,' she says. The attendant then appears to request the women to stow their baggage underneath the seat in front of them. The women appear not to have heard her – or willfully ignore her – before bringing up her New Orleans mix-up again. 'You told so many times that is New Orleans. So first of all you have to know where we are going,' one woman argued. At this point, the flight attendant seems to lose her patience and warns the women they will be deplaned. 'Okay, you know, just for that, I'm going to make sure you guys get off. This is easy for me. Watch,' says the Spirit Airlines flight attendant before stalking away. The second part of the video, uploaded on TikTok, shows cops entering the plane to deboard the passengers. 'After the previous video I posted, we were delayed for an hour. Ultimately the cops had to show up and threaten to use physical force to remove them,' TikTok user @khamisidrismoh wrote. 'Stand up and walk with us. We can talk more out there. But right now, stand up and walk with us,' one police officer was heard telling the women. The women still refused to get off and had to be threatened with jail time. They were heard arguing with the three cops that came on the flight to escort them away. 'I'm telling you what's happening. Either you are gonna get off the plane, or you're going to jail,' the officer said. The women eventually managed to gather their luggage and deboarded, allowing the flight to take off after a delay of over an hour. The videos have led to much criticism of their behaviour on social media, with many accusing the three Indian women of talking rudely to the flight attendant.
Mint
30 minutes ago
- Mint
Dubai's 4-star hotel ‘is basically Indian'; serves poha, has jet spray: Netizens call it Mumbai's ‘expensive cousin'
A four-star hotel in Dubai has caught the attention of Indian viewers as stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant shares its distinct focus on catering to the desi tourists. From serving a variety of Indian dishes at the breakfast buffet to offering Hindi news channels on television and displaying IPL pennants in the sports bar, the hotel's efforts to make Indian guests feel at home have piqued the Internet's interest. The hotel was so "desi" that even its wall clock was of Sonata from Big Bazaar. In the now-viral video, Pant, who was staying at Majestic City Retreat Hotel in Dubai, showed his viewers how desi the hotel was. 'When your international hotel is basically Indian,' Pant wrote alongside his video, which opens with a view of the Dubai skyline. 'Breakfast buffet has poha, Jain poha, 19 parathas, 18 types of rajma, dosas,' says Pant in the background as he surfed through their breakfast buffet full of Indian dishes. The comedian also shared that the hotel offered a Hindi news channel for its guests. At the hotel sports bar, Pant was greeted with IPL-themed decor. While all these were rather small gestures to make the Indian travellers feel at home, Pant addressed the greatest curiosity of all Indians and showed that the Dubai hotel did indeed have a jet spray alongside a bidet. 'Tell us you are in Bur Dubai without telling us,' a user quipped. 'You are in the most Indian locality of Dubai, which is more indian than India. Habibi come here in Diwali,' another user said. Bur Dubai has a large Indian population and is unofficially known as 'Little India'. A few netizens were actually impressed by the buffet menu and thought the Hindi news channels were a 'cherry on cake'. 'Sorry fam. Breakfast buffet is legit gold. Wouldn't want anything else,' said a netizen. Some users joked that Dubai was no longer an international holiday destination. 'Dubai is not international - Dubai is bss ameer ristedaar ka ghar,' a user said. Another user said, 'Dubai is 'The Expensive Cousin' to Mumbai.' 'Welcome to Majestic City Retreat, your home away from home,' a user quipped. Majestic City Retreat also commented on the Instagram Reel, saying, 'Thank you for visiting us. We are proud to be Desi in a Videsi environment.'
