Lucknow: As the 15-day Uttarayani Kauthig 2026 festival organised by Parvatiya Mahaparishad at Govind Ballabh Pant Parvatiya and Sanskritic Upvan drew to an end on Wednesday, visitors stood in long queues, waiting for their order at various stalls. The most popular proved to be the stall run by Preeti, named ‘Pyari Pahadan’. In traditional Uttrakhandi outfit and a large ‘nath’ (nose ring) to boot, she doled out Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari delights like ‘ragi siddu’, ‘ragi dumplings’ and ‘ragi noodles’ along with traditional dishes like ‘chainsoo’, ‘mandua ki roti’ and ‘bhatt ki dal’, topped with ‘gulgula’ and ‘jhangora kheer’ for dessert.An engineer by qualitification, Preeti, quit her corporate job to follow her passion for cooking and selling dishes of her homeland. She runs two restaurants in the hills. “I am very happy that not only people hailing from Uttarakhand, but Lucknowites too loved ‘pahadi khana’ as many are getting food packed to take home,” she said. Visiting along with his family, Himesh Tandon, said, “I have never eaten such a delicious thali with such spices and unusual taste.” Another stall owner, Puran Singh Nayan from Almora, said “People know mostly about the beauty of Uttarakhand, but I wanted them to taste the food of hills.”Puran sold dishes like ‘gut ke aloo’, ‘gaderi ki sabzi’, ‘Kumaoni kheere ka raita’, ‘pahadi aam ki chutney’, ‘bhatt ke pakode’, ‘kath ki chai’ and ‘pahadi halwa’.Another visitor, Pratibha Mishra, enjoying bhatt ke pakode and gut ke aloo from his stall, said, “I never knew dishes of Uttarakhand were so simple yet so tasty.”
