The story of the wandering Marwari trader is much older than that of our city. History tells us that Marawai financiers-bankers called jagatseths were the key movers and shakers of the battle of Plassey which brought the British into the country as rulers. As a matter of fact we can say that they had a considerable stake in building Kolkata too. Therefore, it was imperative that this powerful and somewhat reviled community would be a part of the cultural milieu of the city. Indeed, Kolkata with all its vibrancy, quirks and charms is as much a Marwari city as a Bengali one.

That is why, no Kolkata experience is complete without savouring a mouthful of Burrabazar (the Marwari hub of the city), saturated as it is with a delightful cocktail of sights, sounds and smells. And food comprises an essential part of that experience. Fluffy kachoris, spicy bhujias and sinfully rich laddoos are as much a part of what is now known as Kolkata cuisine as fish kobiraji, alu chop and roshogolla.

The Marwari food festival at Saffron (The Park) celebrates that very aspect of the city. “We have consciously created the menu keeping in mind the way Marwari cuisine has evolved in the city. As the Marwari community has traveled and settled down the length and breadth of India and abroad, their vegetarian repertoire has grown to an enviable length, sometimes incorporating regional favourites and baked dishes from continental cuisine into their own. We have hand picked some of these dishes after consulting our Marwari friends and guests,” says Diya Basu, director, PR & Communication, The Park.

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