A nationwide food tourism campaign will bring the flavours of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia communities to metropolitan audiences, positioning Meghalaya as a leading culinary destination.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Meghalaya Tourism, in partnership with Meghalayan Age and the Seeti Movement, is taking the state’s rich indigenous culinary heritage to major cities across India through a series of 14 food events scheduled between October 2026 and February 2027. The campaign aims to introduce urban audiences to Meghalaya’s traditional ingredients, food cultures and culinary communities while promoting food-led tourism.
The programme will be delivered through two distinct formats, Seeti In Your City and the Fire & Feast Festival. Together, they will travel across metropolitan centres including Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Goa and Gurugram, creating opportunities for people to experience the authentic flavours and stories of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities.
The initiative officially begins with Tribal Expressions in Bengaluru, a curated dining experience celebrating the culinary traditions of the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia tribes. Designed to showcase traditional cooking techniques, indigenous ingredients and cultural narratives, the event seeks to connect diners with the heritage that shapes Meghalaya’s food identity.
Among the dishes expected to be highlighted are iconic regional specialties such as Tungrymbai, a fermented soybean preparation, and Dohneiiong, a pork dish cooked with black sesame. These recipes reflect generations of culinary knowledge deeply rooted in Meghalaya’s landscape, communities and agricultural traditions.
The second component of the campaign, the Fire & Feast Festival, will adopt a larger public festival format featuring barbecue, live-fire cooking, music and community-driven food experiences. The events are intended not only to showcase Meghalaya’s cuisine but also to recreate the communal outdoor cooking traditions that form an integral part of life in the Northeast.
Leading the culinary showcase will be Chef Nambie Jessica Marak, first runner-up of MasterChef India Season 8 and Meghalaya’s Cultural and Culinary Ambassador, alongside chefs and culinary practitioners including Ahmedaki Laloo, Benny Paia Dondor Wankhar, Adonijah Lyngdoh, Reuben Zamal Sooting and Fufu Pamei. Traditional cooks, regional restaurants and food entrepreneurs from the state will also participate in the programme.
Food tourism is increasingly emerging as a powerful travel motivator worldwide, with travellers seeking authentic and culturally immersive experiences. Meghalaya’s initiative reflects a broader trend where destinations are leveraging indigenous cuisine to build stronger tourism identities and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
Dr. Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Tourism, Meghalaya, said the initiative would provide greater recognition for the state’s indigenous ingredients, traditional knowledge systems and local culinary talent while fostering cultural exchange across regions.
By taking its culinary traditions beyond the Northeast, Meghalaya hopes to encourage travellers to discover the stories behind its food and, ultimately, inspire more visitors to experience the state firsthand. The campaign marks an important step in showcasing Meghalaya not only as a destination of waterfalls and living root bridges, but also as one of India’s most distinctive and culturally rich food destinations.
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