Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said event organisers should consider guests’ dietary preferences, recalling her experiences as a vegetarian at international events.
She added that when she failed to share her preference in advance, she had sometimes been left with only bread and butter. She added that visiting guests also understand the limitations of hosting arrangements, concluding her post with, “Just saying. Her remarks came amid discussions over the all-vegetarian menu served to visiting leaders at the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The menu was curated to showcase Indian cuisine and featured vegetarian dishes such as paneer lababdar, millet pulao, khumb galouti and traditional Indian desserts. The spread reportedly included a selection of regional Indian dishes designed to introduce international delegates to the country’s diverse culinary traditions. It featured items such as khandvi, paneer lababdar, millet pulao, Kashmiri morels, khumb galouti and jalebi, along with other traditional Indian preparations. The all-vegetarian menu was part of the hospitality arrangements for leaders and delegates attending the summit. It highlighted Indian culinary diversity while offering guests a range of traditional dishes. Chaturvedi’s comments focused on the importance of offering guests suitable food choices while acknowledging that visitors may also understand the practical limitations involved in hosting international events.
In a post on X, Chaturvedi said she had often needed to specifically request vegetarian meals at events held abroad. “As a vegetarian I have had to specifically put in a request for a vegetarian meal option at all events internationally,” she wrote. Chaturvedi said it would have been better if food options had been offered to guests, referring to India’s “atithi devo bhava” sentiment, which emphasises treating guests with respect and hospitality.
