Noida is hosting the hyper-local street food festival, the ‘Noida Utsav,’ wherein street food from across the country will be available under one roof. Organized by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), renowned for hosting the National Street Food Festival in Delhi for the past 13 years, this three-day event is a collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).This festival is taking place at Noida Haat in Sector 32 and will continue till February 4. It will run from noon to 10 p.m.
‘Noida Utsav,’ national street food festival
Sangeeta Singh, the street food program head at NASVI, explained that the expansion of the festival beyond Delhi is aimed at providing more opportunities to micro-entrepreneurs and broadening the horizons of this culinary and cultural celebration. The Noida Utsav strives to offer visitors an immersive experience by bringing together street food vendors from around the country alongside handicraft artisans. The curated selection includes popular street foods like aloo chaat, malai kebab, afghani kebab, tava chicken litti, malaiya makhan, and kesariya doodh, alongside handicraft products such as carpets, khadi garments, tarkashi woodwork, and terracotta artifacts.
This time, the organisers are emphasising the eco-friendly aspect of the event, declaring it a ‘zero waste’ food festival. To achieve this, they plan to eliminate single-use plastic by providing vendors with leaf-based, wooden, and bamboo cutlery, as well as recyclable plastic containers. The waste generated during the festival will be meticulously segregated, with organic waste earmarked for composting and packaging materials sent for recycling. Non-recyclable or non-compostable materials will be directed toward upcycling initiatives.
Sanjay Gupta, a waste management expert associated with the organisers, expressed confidence that this festival will mark a pioneering effort as the first ‘zero waste food festival’ in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Arbind Singh, the national coordinator for NASVI, highlighted the festival’s broader goals and stressed the importance of promoting street food vendors on a national and international scale, providing them with enhanced livelihood opportunities.
Why should you consider visiting this festival?
The Noida Utsav is not just a culinary extravaganza but also a platform for budding artisans and performers. The festival will feature 50 vendors from various parts of the country, setting up stalls to showcase their talents. Panel discussions will also be organised to offer training to micro-entrepreneurs, covering topics such as market understanding, Mudra loans, and other government schemes. Overall, the Noida Utsav will be a celebration of street culture, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating a vibrant space for both vendors and visitors alike.
