Food lovers thronged the annual Mongolian Food Festival, which is organized during the winters in Assam.
Organised on the banks of River Brahmaputra, the 10-day long food fest in Guwahati city saw visitors enjoying varieties of food prepared by different tribes.
People savoured dishes specific to Assam. Most of the tribes in Assam are of Mongolian origin. Some also have their origins in the Tibeto-Burman and South-East Asian regions.
The organisers believe the traditions, culture and food practices of Mongolian-origin tribes are diminishing and such kinds of events will help people in promoting their food items.
"We will be happy to participate in such kinds of events outside our state as it promotes our food among people. Our cuisine will be noticed in rest of the India, we will feel good about it," said a participant from Nagaland Piza Mo.
The tribal foods of the northeast were not that popular five to ten years ago but nowadays they have become an attraction among people.
Apart from various delicacies, local rice beer was also served at most of the stalls, which is a traditional delicacy of the region.
"(People are) Using the local recipes instead of using international and national recipes of food. Promoting these kinds of foods always gives new kind of appointment and new sources of income to the people," said a visitor Dilip Tamuli.
Tamuli said the event could be improvised with more attractive display of foods by giving a tribal design to the stalls.
The food ranged from pork with bamboo shoot, pork with lie paata, topola rice to chicken bamboo shoot.
The northeastern tribal use very limited amount of oil and spice in their food and hence it is considered healthy.
Various other foods from various tribes like Tai-Ahom, Mishing, Naga, Bodo were on display during the festival. Barbeque pork, smoked fish, crabs were also on display.
The festival, which began on November 30, will conclude on December 10.
