Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Jan 9: The women in Bhaderwah for the first time are serving local food to the visiting tourists at the snow bound areas of Bhaderwah.
While this on one hand is boosting the local economy in a big way, the same is also making the ethnic foods popular.
Snow filled meadows of Guldanda on Bhaderwah-Pathankot Highway and Vibrant Bhaderwah Festival resulted in unprecedented footfall of tourists who are enjoying the local cuisines like GI tagged Rajma, Sarsoon Ka Sag and Makki Ki Roti, Knol Khol pickle and Shatloi and these mouth watering dishes are becoming immensely popular among them.
CEO Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA), Bal Krishan said at least 20 women have established their food stalls at Guldanda, Qilla and New Bus Stand and they serve ethnic Bhaderwahi Food to the visiting tourists.
“For us, this is a new phenomenon and one of the major highlights of ‘Vibrant Bhadarwah Festival’ as for the first time ladies have come out in such large number to showcase their cooking skills commercially thereby boosting women entrepreneurship in otherwise conservative society of hilly Chenab region,” CEO BDA said.
The culinary skills of local women are being admired by one and all and the brisk business is giving the women a lot of confidence to further strengthen their newly entered ventures.
“Never thought that I will start earning at this age by cooking Sarsoon Ka Sag and Makki Ki Roti but my grandson not only insisted but also encouraged me to open a stall at Guldanda meadow and surprisingly it became an instant hit with tourists,” said Shakuntla Devi, 67, of village Bheja.
“This new fond success is giving me a lot of confidence and self respect besides the appreciation of visitors who are showing love for the local spicy vegetables,” she maintained.
Anuradha Katal, 32, of village Katyara said: “My husband is a cab driver and he drives on Bhaderwah-Sarthal route but after November snowfall the road got closed for 5 months and we were worried for making a living but the sudden rush of tourists has given us a new lease of life and I ventured into cooking for the first time that too with local cuisine.”
She said that she has been serving recently GI tagged local Rajma and Chawal and Knol-Khol pickle to the visitors since last one month and the dishes are being loved by the tourists.
“The positive feedback from customers has encouraged me to make cooking my permanent profession,” Anuradha continued.
Tourists have been converging in large numbers in Bhaderwah valley since first snowfall on October 19, 2023 and they said that they will remember ethnic Bhaderwahi food for a long time.
“After enjoying the beautiful snow destination Guldanda, the local cuisines are the second best things we will remember for long,” said Simran, from Ayodhya.
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