Guests enjoy Mughlai dishes at The Yellow Chilli and (below) a model shows off a mekhela chador at Shilpgram’s fashion show. Pictures by Eastern Projections

For connoisseurs with quintessential Assamese tastebuds, The Yellow Chilli is offering Mughlai dishes with a touch of Assamese flavour till January 31.

At the inaugural ceremony of the fiesta, M.S. Gautam, general manager of the eatery, said the Mughlai Food Festival was an attempt to reinvent Mughlai cuisine for Assamese foodies. The result is traditional rich Mughlai cuisine cooked with less oil, spices and chilli.

“Assamese people generally prefer food with less spices, oil and chilli. Keeping intact the essence of Mughlai cuisine, we have prepared the dishes keeping in mind the tastes of Assamese people,” Gautam said.

The experiment is obviously a success with foodies thronging the eatery to taste the wide array of mouth-watering delicacies.

Some of the items popular at the food festival are Fatehpuri boti kebab, kakori kebab and bhunihuyi kaleji.

The main course includes Murg Shahajani, Nargisi kofta, Jehangiri kofta, Akbari murg masala and shahi murg do pyaza. The vegetarian section includes Jehangiri khas, anguri paneer, khatta-mitha paneer and dilpasand malai kofta.

Biryani, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, is gaining popularity. Deed-e-maskana, rampuri dam biryani and gulpokht-te-Ghalib are some of the varieties on offer.

All biryanis are served with boorani raita, which is a tangy and saucy accompaniment.

“The food is great. The dishes are not only delicious, but also good for health. I am having a gala time with my family members. Mughlai cuisine has its own distinct flavour and the eatery has done a great job by using less oil and spices,” said Piyali Banerjee, relishing a plate of Akbari murg masala and deed-e-maskana biryani.

Fashion fiesta

Shilpgram’s first anniversary celebrations, Shilp Utsav, 2007, turned out to be a colourful fiesta of traditional designer clothes, music and masti. The three-day gala event concluded in the city recently. The first day of the event saw ghazal singer, Penaz Masani, enthralling music buffs with her velvety voice.

On the second day, designer Meghna Rai Medhi brought the ramp alive with the region’s “weaving culture”. Models sashayed down the ramp, flaunting exquisite designs inspired by traditional garments of the region.

“The region is a treasure trove of traditional designs. All my work has been inspired by the weaving heritage of the region,” Rai Medhi said at the end of the show.

On the last day of the festival, a live performance by Bollywood singer Vinod Rathod made music lovers jive to his tunes. The Song and Drama Division of India showcased some of the finest dances of the country at the Shilpgram podium.

“We are happy that the event was a success. The festival showcased the best of the tradition, culture and heritage of the region and how it is keeping abreast of modern times.,” organiser Oliver Rai said.

“I attended the event on all three days. The festival was a good fusion of the region’s traditional aspects with modern concepts. I had a great time here,” Pushpa Dutta, a housewife, said.