Sri Vijaya Puram, June 27: The three-day Monsoon Food & Spice Festival-2026 commenced at the ITF Ground in Sri Vijaya Puram on Friday, bringing together regional cuisines, cultural performances, indoor games and local entrepreneurs in an effort to promote India’s culinary diversity, the Islands’ cultural heritage and monsoon tourism.
Organised by the Tourism Department, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, in collaboration with other line departments, the festival forms part of the annual Monsoon Carnival featured in the Tourism Calendar of Fairs and Festivals. The event seeks to showcase local cuisine, culture, creativity, sports and community participation while encouraging residents and tourists to experience the Islands during the monsoon season.
Additional District Magistrate, South Andaman, Priyanka Kumari inaugurated the festival in the presence of tourism stakeholders and other participants. Following the inauguration, she visited the exhibition stalls, interacted with exhibitors and reviewed the wide range of food items and locally prepared delicacies displayed at the venue.
The festival features around 25 stalls and three kiosks representing Government departments, State associations, local entrepreneurs, self-help groups and food establishments. Visitors can explore traditional, regional and contemporary cuisines from different parts of the country, along with homemade products prepared by SHG groups.
Live kitchen stalls set up by local food outlets, renowned hotels and restaurants have emerged as one of the major attractions of the event. The stalls offer a variety of regional dishes, traditional recipes, savouries and sweets, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience India’s diverse culinary traditions in one location.
The Monsoon Carnival also includes indoor sporting events such as chess and arm wrestling at Stall No. 22 in collaboration with the Directorate of Education, expanding the festival beyond food and cultural activities.
The opening day witnessed a steady turnout as visitors enjoyed food, live music and cultural performances throughout the evening. Performances were presented by M.J Musical through contemporary dance, Balakrishna Nritya Academy with folk dance, LEAD the Band and Alpha Musical Group & Soul Musical Association through live musical presentations.
The festival aims to promote traditional culinary knowledge, healthy eating practices, cultural diversity and community engagement while providing a platform for local talent, entrepreneurs and self-help groups to showcase their products and skills.
The cultural programme on June 27 will feature performances by Andaman Islands Film Society, Dance Nritya Academy, Melody Mix and a special presentation by officers and officials of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration led by Rajeshwar Lall, Assistant Secretary (GA).
The concluding day on June 28 will include performances by Sujata Dance Academy, Vikash Academy, Kalapani Band, followed by prize distribution. The closing programme will also feature performances by the Andaman and Nicobar Police Band along with skits focusing on cyber crime, drug abuse and traffic awareness.
The Monsoon Food & Spice Festival-2026 will continue at the ITF Pavilion from 4 pm to 9 pm on June 27 and June 28, offering visitors an opportunity to experience regional cuisines, cultural performances and community-led initiatives under the theme “Monsoon Flavours.”
