Shillong, Nov. 17: In a bid to bolster the Terra Madre (Mother Earth) movement, Carlo Petrini, founder and president of Slow Food International, today exhorted young people to retain their distinct identity amidst the globalisation of tradition and culture.

Speaking at an indigenous food festival at Mawphlang village, about 30km from here, the Italian paid homage to the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia people who had come to represent their respective districts and to showcase indigenous gastronomic delights.

“The world is charmed by McDonalds and fast food. However, you will eat much better here than in McDonalds, and I also exhort the youth to retain their distinct identity, culture and traditions,” Petrini, who spoke in Italian, said.

On the Terra Madre movement, Petrini said, “Unlike most of the social and political movements, which ask people to move forward and change, our movement insists people to retain their roots, culture, tradition and distinct identity.”

“Be proud of your own culture, tradition and history. Let people know that you are a Khasi,” he added.

Terra Madre is an international network of food communities. Each community is committed to produce quality food in a responsible and sustainable way and is coordinated by Slow Food International.

Reminding the gathering that all inhabitants of Mother Earth are brothers and sisters, Petrini said, “Although we have different cultures, traditions, languages and food habits, we are brothers and sisters who inhabit the same earth.”

Former assistant president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome, Phrang Roy, said the indigenous food festival was held to highlight the rich indigenous food of the people here. “If we look around us, we will see that the world has forgotten about indigenous food. However, we are trying to remind the people about the importance of local gastronomy, culture and traditions,” Roy said.

Mawphlang also has the William Lewis Boys’ Home, an orphanage run by the Khasi-Jaintia Presbyterian Church. A stall run by the orphans was also part of the 13 stalls at the festival.