Third Kashmir food festival in Dubai from March 25

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Government will host the third week-long Kashmir Food Festival in Dubai from March 25.

Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Director General Saleem Beg told UNI that Kashmiri cuisine 'wazwan' will be showcased at the festival which will be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg.

Four master chefs or 'wazas' will be flown to Dubai to prepare the sumptuous Kashmiri spread for food connoisseurs.

''Healthy Kashmiri food will be served to people... this is what we are aiming at,'' he added.

Mr Beg said the objective of the festival was to promote the state as a prime tourist destination and attract as many visitors as possible.

''The festival provides us the opportunity to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.... and Dubai with its large expatriate population, particularly from Europe, is an ideal place,'' he added.

As as part of the festival, business leaders will be invited for discussion on trade and tourism.

The event, being organised in collaboration with a Dubai-based Hotel, will comprise two India evenings and audio-visual presentation about Kashmiri culture.

''We will put up pictures highlighting our culture and heritage at the festival...,'' he added.

The Tourism Department was also scheduled to host a 10-day Kashmiri Food and Cultural festival in Pakistan, but had to cancel the event as Islamabad refused to give visas to a tourism officials.

The festival, which was to commence in March, was to be held in Lahore and subsequently travel to Islamabad.

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