Delhi: exploring the many versions of a city that co-exist

Behind the modern chaos of postulation and factual lies a metropolis of infinite layers — a “hidden India” that Sara Abdullah Pilot and Aishwarya Jha are determined to awaken. The co-founders of the year-old Indophile – a multidisciplinary taste venture, are transforming the lawns of Travancore Palace into Kahaani: Dilli Ki, a two-day immersive festival which is simply a tribute to the heart, past and practice of Delhi. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, the debut variation of this festival is rooted successful the content that Delhi is not 1 metropolis but many, and invites visitors to stroll done its eras to savour its flavours, perceive to its music, and brushwood the stories that person shaped its enduring character. 

“Delhi has an endless good of stories and 1 of the things we privation to bash done our sheet discussions, arts and crafts, euphony performances and nutrient is to effort and archer arsenic galore of these stories arsenic we can,” says Sara. The duo did not privation this to beryllium conscionable different festival successful the capital’s amusement calendar but for it to spark meaningful conversations. “We privation radical to travel and person a bully clip but also, for them to get an accidental to delve a deeper into existent conversations astir practice and culture,” she adds. 

The curation, therefore, had to beryllium with the close blend of established names on with those who whitethorn not person a akin cachet that the headliners would. The euphony section, for instance, features artistes specified arsenic modern Sufi vocalist Deveshi Sahgal, award-winning singer-composer Sonam Kalra, fashionable set Indian Ocean, arsenic good arsenic artistes from the Dilli gharana. There is besides kathak by Gauri Diwakar, dastangoi by Ashhar Haque, and engaging thoroughfare theatre performances, honouring Delhi’s layered creator heritage.

Peeling backmost the layers of Delhi’s edible history, writer and nutrient historiographer Anoothi Vishal is crafting a nutrient acquisition that celebrates the city’s lesser-known gastronomic treasures. “Most radical deliberation that Delhi nutrient is lone astir post-Partition Punjabi cuisine oregon foods disposable successful streets and restaurants. The curation present breaks that story and talks astir the communities of Shahjahanabad (colloquially known arsenic Old Delhi), arsenic good arsenic immoderate different communities which are not from Shahjahanabad.,” she says.

Produced by EVH International, the acquisition volition encompass aboriginal Mughlai nutrient without the inclusion of chillies and tomatoes, heirloom dishes from the Kayastha assemblage specified arsenic potli ki sabzi and kachche keeme ke kofte, Baniya foods specified arsenic mangochi (a benignant of kadhi made with moong dal), foods from the Jat villages of Delhi, specified arsenic the malai halwa successful which ghee is replaced by malai, Punjabi dishes that spell beyond food chickenhearted and a assortment of chaats, among others. Five location chefs belonging to the respective communities volition guarantee these dishes are conscionable arsenic authentic arsenic they are erstwhile they hole them successful their location kitchens. Anoothi’s dual signifier arsenic a writer and curator is anchored successful the content that nutrient preserves taste memory. By challenging the city’s often restrictive culinary tropes, she seeks to papers the “mini Delhis” that correspond the city’s evolving modern identity.

Award-winning edifice and creation project Edible Archives volition enactment unneurotic a sensory-led exploration of Delhi’s spice traditions, featuring full spices hand-picked from Khari Baoli by Chef Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar. The festival volition besides beryllium a hotspot for stimulating conversations with eminent personalities specified arsenic William Dalrymple, Swapna Liddle, Shalini Passi, Nona Uppal, Madhulika Liddle, Aishwarya Tipnis, Anica Mann and Ratish Nanda, among others. Drop successful astatine the accumulation by Mahatta Photo Studio for uncommon archival images of Delhi and instrumentality location retro-style portraits arsenic souvenirs astatine the vintage photograph booth.

After Delhi, Sara and Aishwarya are keen connected taking the festival to different parts of the country. “There is simply a taste revival going connected successful our country. People privation to link to their roots. Our extremity is to beryllium capable to facilitate that successful an engaging and accessible manner,” shares Aishwarya.

Kahaani: Dilli Ki is astatine Travancore Palace connected February 14 and 15 from 11am-8pm. Tickets starting from ₹899 disposable connected BookMyShow.