The Eastleigh food festival showcased delicious Marathi dishes, bringing a taste of India to the community with family recipes and vibrant flavors
Eastleigh: The food festival was a real treat! It’s been happening every year since 2015, and it’s always a blast. From noon to 3 PM, the town was buzzing with the smell of delicious street food and drinks. You could find regional dishes that you don’t usually see in local Indian restaurants.
Curries were priced at just £7, thanks to the South of England Marathi Pariwar (SEMP), which organized the festival for its 11th year. It’s such a great way to enjoy authentic flavors without breaking the bank.
Dr. Pooja Patwardhan, the chairperson of SEMP, shared that the festival features family recipes, special delicacies, and a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, along with exotic drinks and desserts. She mentioned that while it’s Indian food, it’s not just the usual samosas you find everywhere.
People really love the unique tastes, and it’s heartwarming to see the community’s support. The event coincided with Republic Day, a significant holiday in India, celebrating the country’s independence.
This year’s festival was all about Marathi cuisine, and the name itself, which means joy and fair, perfectly captures the spirit of the event. Dr. Pooja emphasized that they wanted to spread love through home-cooked food, and you could feel that warmth in the air.
Everyone involved had been up early, preparing for months, and it’s such a joy to see people enjoying the food. Rajan Jolly was one of the stallholders, and the event only cost £1 to enter, held at a community hall in Chandler’s Ford.
One mother, who attended with her family, described the festival as a ‘beautiful blend of culture.’ She loved having so much amazing home-cooked food in one spot, saying it was truly inspiring. SEMP, founded in 2013, is run entirely by volunteers, making this event even more special.
