Baby Valerie Chen savours the fare at the Healthy Vegetarian Food Expo. Picture by Rashbehari Das

What: Healthy Vegetarian Food Expo, organised by Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre.

Where: Pei Mei Chinese High School at P 1-2, Iswar Mondal Lane, Tangra.

When: March 21, 6 pm to 7.30 pm.

The classes: The expo was organised at the end of a vegetarian cookery course conducted by Kong, a Buddhist vegetarian chef from Tainan, Taiwan.

The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre was also celebrating the 40th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, which has 194 branch temples and 170 regional chapters all over the world.

The menu: The food spread was elaborate and exotic. On offer were 36 items prepared by the students of the one-and-a-half month cookery workshop. Fried Crystal Bon, Sweet Yam, Colourful Garden Salad, Sushi, Vegetarian Steak, Peanut Tofu, Pineapple Fried Rice and the like found a place on the menu that “more than 600 people” relished.

Voiceover: “We are very happy that this initiative was so well accepted. After beginning with a student count of 13, we reached 27 in just a few days. Being vegetarian isn’t only about religion; we want to promote vegetarianism because it teaches one compassion for all forms of life,” said Miao Ru, president of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre.

Cool cottons

What: Exhibition of summer saris by Sujata Sarawgi.

Where: Finesse at 11/1B, New Road, Alipore.

When: Till March 24.

Take a look: On offer is a collection of handwoven saris in cotton, cotton silk and cotton katiya.

One can also take a pick from cotton Venkatgiri of Tamil Nadu woven with real zari and embellished with prints. And then there is a range of block-printed Maheswari saris.

Voiceover: “The best way to beat the summer heat is by wearing cotton. The products on offer are stylish as well as comfortable,” says Sujata.