Manali, Himachal Pradesh
During President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Manali, a special menu featuring traditional dishes from Kullu was prepared for her. The local administration gave priority to traditional recipes and locally grown grains while planning the President’s meals. From Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon, her menu featured several speciality dishes from the Kullu region.
On Tuesday night, the President was served gucchi curry along with red rice and rajma. For Wednesday breakfast, buckwheat flour paratha was served. It was accompanied by soups made from kauni, oghla and besa.
For Wednesday lunch, the menu included bathu kheer, raw papaya and apricot-based dessert. Along with preparations of ridge gourd and okra, gucchi and ragi soup were also served. Pumpkin ambla curry and red rice were also part of the meal.
### Traditional Grains Grown Using Natural Manure
The President’s menu also included several traditional grains that are gradually becoming less common. These crops are traditionally grown using natural manure, without the use of chemical fertilizers.
Kullu’s buckwheat is an important part of the region’s traditional cuisine. It is also known locally as kuttu or kutu. In different Himachali dialects, it is referred to by names such as oghla, bresh, tau and phaphad.
Buckwheat is known as “buckwheat” in English. Scientifically, it is not a true cereal grain but the seed of a plant that produces triangular-shaped fruits. For this reason, it is classified as a pseudocereal.
