How about indulging in an unending variety of naans and paans? If you are already drooling, hold on. The ‘Hyderabad ki shaan’ will be on full display next week. The Jashn-e-Telangana is going to have a distinct Hyderabadi flavour. The first State formation day celebrations will witness the first of its kind ‘Telangana Naan and Paan Festival’.
Hyderabad Tourism, in association with the Telangana Tourism Department, is planning a unique food festival to mark the first anniversary of the State formation. The two-day mouth-watering event will be held on June 5 and 6 at the City Centre Mall, Banjara Hills. What is unique about it is that one can sample a variety of naans (bread) and paan (betel leaves) all under one roof – the Afghan naan, Mughal Shahi naan and Sultan’s Sheermal to name a few. And there will be good range of curries, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, to eat with the oven-baked flat bread. The naans will come in all shapes and sizes – round, square, rectangular and paan-shaped. “The naan will cost anywhere between Rs. 10 and Rs. 50,” says M.A. Basith of Hyderabad Tourism.
Paan chewers will also be spoiled for choice. Apart from saada paan, Banarasi paan, meetha paan, one can also go for chocolate paan, paan laddu, kulfi paan, gulab paan, qimam paan. Well-known paan makers, Dimmy Paan shop, will provide the syrupy delicacy to suit your taste while Mughals Caterers will come up with a tantalising range of naans, succulent kebabs and curries. What’s more, visitors will be treated to the foot-tapping, raunchy number ‘Khaike paan Banaras wala ..’.
Festival organisers plan to drive home the ‘Swachh Bharat’ message since paan chewing and spitting go together.
The first State formation day celebrations will witness the first of its kind ‘Telangana Naan and Paan Festival’