04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

LAHORE, Sept 3: Acting Indian High Commissioner T. C. Raghavan and Punjab Tourism Minister Aslam Iqbal would open the first two-week South Indian Food Festival at a local hotel on Saturday (today).

A team of three chefs led by Balasubramanium of Orchid Hotel, Mumbai, will present a wide range of South Indian cuisine that will continue to rotate during the festival.

Orchid Hotel official Manoj Thapa said at a press conference at the Pearl Continental here on Friday the South Indian food was very different from Pakistani food and most dishes did not require spices (garam masalah).

Festivals like food and music could help bring India and Pakistan closer, said Mr Thapa. He said the Pakistani food festival was held at Uppal Orchid, New Delhi, in March.

Indians enjoyed the Pakistani food a lot, he added. Mr Balasubramanium said the cuisine would represent four southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pardesh and Tamil Nadu.