Seven renowned restaurants across Delhi and nearby areas presented authentic Thai cuisine
Thai cuisine, culture and crafts were the highlights of Namaste Thailand Festival that was held in New Delhi from March 24-26. Organised by the Royal Thai Embassy, Namaste Thailand Festival was hosted in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and various other partners and was inaugurated by Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India.
According to a press statement by the Royal Thai Embassy, the purpose of the event was to present Thailand to Indians and foreigners living in India by showcasing Thailand’s numerous aspects of Thainess. For the festival, seven renowned restaurants across Delhi and nearby areas presented authentic Thai cuisine to customers, while 15 stalls were put up that endorsed a range of products from Thailand, such as kitchenware, ceramics, herbal balm, accessories, clothing lines, food items and jewellery.
In her inaugural speech, Hongtong welcomed everyone to the Festival and to take part in various programmes and be immersed in the lively and colourful culture of Thailand. “It is wonderful that we are able to come back and organise this Namaste Thailand Festival once again after a three year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So we are very happy that we could finally bring the best of Thailand to our Indian friends and Indian people. So many Indian people know Thai food, know Thailand, and they know Thai people, so the response has been overwhelming. In this festival, the seven restaurants that served the food here bring the best and most delicious food of Thailand to the visitors. Krapao is a bit spicy but we also have the very popular Som Tum, and the green and red curry. So I would say, we have all kinds of dishes to suit all people,’’ Hongtong tells India Outbound.
As part of the festival, a number of events were organised. These included a cooking demonstration by Hongtong, who demonstrated how to make the renowned Thai papaya salad or Som Tum. The statement adds that the International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA) crew closely advised the contestants as they prepared Thai delicacies in the cooking competition that followed. Participants also learned about the components and methods utilised to prepare delectable Thai cuisines. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set up a variety of activities at their booths to pique the interests of participants who wish to visit Thailand.
Another star attraction of the festival was a Muay Thai demonstration organised by the United Muay Thai Association – India (UMAI), a group that travelled from Jaipur. The statement adds that Namaste Thailand Flash Quizzes by the Embassy and Quizcraft Global challenged audiences’ knowledge about Thailand while enlivening up the atmosphere.
The Ma Kao Hang Band from the northeastern Thai province of Kalasin was invited by the Royal Thai Embassy in collaboration with Thai Airlines International to perform a mini evening concert that featured Thai classical and traditional music. Their uniqueness and musical talents in fusing Isan in northeastern region of Thailand, traditional instruments with other musical instruments entranced the audience.
