India is preparing to host the BRICS Summit for the fourth time. This 18th edition of the summit holds major diplomatic significance, as it marks the first time in nearly 10 years that three major world powers, India, Russia, and China, will be sharing a common stage on Indian soil. The last occasion when all three powers stood together in India was during the 2016 summit held in Goa. A decade ago, the grouping consisted of only 5 member nations, whereas it has now broadened its membership to include Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. As India gets ready to receive high-level delegations, extensive culinary planning has been set in motion to welcome these international guests.
The Official Protocol for Designing the Summit Menu
As the host country, India aims to balance international dining standards with the showcase of India's traditional culinary heritage. When preparing the culinary offerings for foreign delegates, official organizers place absolute priority on purity, ingredient safety, food allergies, and the personal preferences of every state leader. For an international gathering of this magnitude, the responsibility of drafting and finalizing the dining menu rests with the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of External Affairs, and dedicated protocol committees.
These specialized protocol committees have been planning the menus for the past 2 to 3 months to ensure flawless execution. The entire dining framework is shaped around the summit's official theme, 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Co-operation and Sustainability,' while maintaining a human-centric focus. Detailed profiles have been compiled to account for the exact dietary restrictions and individual choices of both heads of state and their delegation members.
Millets and Traditional Beverages on the Morning Table
The culinary selection for the summit brings together distinctive regional dishes from across North and South India. The millets, also highlighted as 'Shree Anna' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Mann Ki Baat addresses, will take center stage on the delegates' dining platters. Nutritious items made from ragi, jowar, and bajra have been incorporated into the meal schedules.
For breakfast, guests will be offered traditional and wholesome dishes such as ragi dosa, bajra upma, and millet pongal. Alongside these dishes, refreshing desi beverages such as traditional spiced buttermilk (chaas) and fresh coconut water will be served. The overall spread also features iconic culinary traditions from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the southern states of India.
Royal Regional Flavors and Dietary Alignment
To provide delegates with a rich and varied dining experience, several renowned regional recipes have been included in the banquet schedule. The lineup features the famous North Indian Kashmiri pulao, Dakkhani tadka, Hyderabadi vegetarian and non-vegetarian biryani, as well as classic South Indian stew.
Strict attention has been paid to the religious guidelines and dietary choices of each attending head of state, with separate, carefully monitored options for vegetarian and non-vegetarian attendees. The menu highlights celebrated Awadhi kebabs, flavorful tandoori items, and rich Indian gravies simmered over slow heat to achieve authentic depth.
Gala Dinner at Bharat Mandapam
Following a rigorous schedule of high-level diplomatic discussions during the three-day summit, a special gala dinner will take place at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday at 7:00 PM. Hosted by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the evening gathering will bring together foreign ministers and senior officials from across the BRICS member nations. The dinner offers an informal setting for dignitaries to network and engage in strategic conversations while experiencing authentic Indian cuisine.
