Archive · 29 Jan 2026
President Murmu Hosts EU Leaders With Himalayan Menu
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a special dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan for important leaders from Europe.
The dinner was very fancy and had foods from the Himalayan region, like Kashmir and Uttarakhand.
They served special dishes like yak cheese custard, morel mushrooms, and Himalayan honey-dressed persimmon.
The dinner was planned by famous chefs and was extra special because it happened at the same time as a big trade agreement between India and Europe.
The European leader also wore traditional Indian clothes, which showed the mix of diplomacy and culture.
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan for European leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.
The menu featured Himalayan culinary heritage with dishes from Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Northeast.
Starters included jakhiya aloo with green tomato chutney and jhangora ki kheer with meah loon and white chocolate.
The main course highlighted guchhi (morels) and Solan mushrooms with poppy seeds and Himachali swarnu rice.
Desserts featured Himalayan ragi and Kashmiri apple cake topped with timru and sea buckthorn cream.
- Who
- President Droupadi Murmu, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- What
- State banquet with a Himalayan-themed menu
- When
- Tuesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
- Why
- To honor the EU leaders as chief guests at India's 77th Republic Day celebrations and to celebrate India's diverse food traditions
- Event
- State banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Host
- President Droupadi Murmu
- Guests
- European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Occasion
- India's 77th Republic Day celebrations
- Menu Theme
- Himalayan culinary heritage
- Chefs
- Prateek Sadhu and Kamlesh Negi
- Significance
- Coincided with India-EU free trade agreement