PM Modi to host dinner for world leaders tomorrow:Menu to feature UP’s galouti kebabs, Maharashtra’s bhakarwadi and Rajasthan’s kachori

New Delhi will host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12 and 13. The event will be held at Bharat Mandapam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, tomorrow. The dinner menu will feature Galouti kebabs from Uttar Pradesh, bhakarwadi from Maharashtra and kachori from Rajasthan. Luxury hotels have been preparing for weeks to welcome the guests. Preparations include regional Indian cuisine, special menus, traditional gifts and customised personalised services. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to stay at ITC Maurya, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to stay at Taj Palace. The UAE-led delegation will stay at The Leela Palace, while the Egyptian delegation will stay at Sheraton New Delhi. Demand for hotel rooms rises during summit Demand for rooms at luxury hotels in the capital has risen sharply during the summit. At several major hotels, very few rooms are left or no rooms are available around the summit dates. Room rates have also risen sharply due to demand from delegations, security personnel, media and other officials. Around 90% of The Lalit’s 460 rooms are expected to be occupied during the summit. The hotel’s average daily rate will be 30–40% higher than usual. The Leela Palace’s menu includes dal makhani, biryani, Delhi-style chaat and millet dishes such as sattu, bajra and ragi dosa, along with Indian fruits. Millet cookies, granola bars and a special edible lotus made with rose, saffron and cardamom are also being served. Special menus at The Lalit and Taj Mahal Hotel The Taj Mahal Hotel is offering popular snacks from across the country. These include spiced walnuts from Kashmir, maida kaju from Old Delhi, bhakarwadi from Maharashtra, mini kachori from Rajasthan, kucho nimki from Bengal and murukku from Tamil Nadu. The Lalit is serving galouti kebabs, tandoori rotis and South Indian dosa and appam, along with millet dishes made from bajra and jowar. Millet cookies, granola bars and a special edible lotus made with rose, saffron and cardamom are also being served. Importance of dinner diplomacy At major events such as the BRICS Summit, ‘dinner diplomacy’ refers to informal conversations at the dinner table, away from formal meetings and strict protocols. Sharing a meal creates a more relaxed atmosphere among leaders, making it easier to reduce tensions, build mutual trust and discuss contentious issues openly. At times, the groundwork for difficult agreements that cannot be reached during formal discussions behind closed doors is laid through informal conversations over dinner. One District One Product stalls at Bharat Mandapam A ‘One District One Product’ exhibition has also been set up at the BRICS Summit. It showcases 70 unique art and handloom products from across the country. The exhibition is part of an initiative to showcase more than 1,200 unique products from 770 districts to the world. ​