The 'Oorum Unavum' food festival is returning to Semmozhi Poonga in Chennai from July 5 to 7, bringing the rich flavors of Sri Lanka and Myanmar to the city. This event, organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), aims to celebrate World Refugee Day and provide an immersive cultural experience with its theme, 'Ellarum Inbutrirukka' (Enjoyment for All).

The festival will feature food stalls run by 75 refugees from Sri Lanka and Myanmar, now residing in Tamil Nadu. Attendees can sample over 30 traditional dishes and snacks, crafted by these talented chefs. The event showcases the entrepreneurial spirit of the Sri Lankan Tamil community, who are part of a Tamil Nadu Government initiative promoting self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

Vasanthakumari Vijaykumar, one of the participants, has been busy preparing sesame balls, known as ellu paagu, a dish close to her heart. “I came to Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka when I was eight years old. Today, I live in the Ranipet camp. Back there, we had our own sesame plantation. My mother would make this often," she shares. Last year, Vasanthakumari served olai puttu, and the positive response has motivated her to return with this new dish.

Lalitha Padmanathan, who visited the festival last year, will participate for the first time. "It’s a wonderful way to connect and watch people enjoy dishes we grew up eating. I will serve vegetarian dishes and fish patties along with kara bonda," she says.

While most stalls will feature Sri Lankan cuisine, Shaju Begum from Myanmar is excited to introduce her favorite dishes. "I am just starting preparations. I will make lappasu, a dish with peanuts, seeds, onion, and garlic, and channa sup, a chickpea and noodle-based dish," she explains.

Surya Kumari from OfERR India, part of the organizing committee, highlights the festival’s impact: “Many participants got orders after last year’s festival. This empowers them. We curated this menu based on what the participants excel at making.” The festival not only provides a platform for refugees to showcase their culinary skills but also helps them achieve financial independence.

Event Details

The 'Oorum Unavum' food festival will be open from 10 AM to 8 PM daily. In addition to the food stalls, an evening music concert will enhance the festive atmosphere. To ensure a comfortable experience, the festival will limit entry to 500 people per day for lunch and drinks. Advance booking is required, and limited slots for pre-booked lunch are available for all three days. Vegetarian meals are priced at ₹160, chicken meals at ₹280, and fish meals at ₹320.

For reservations, contact 91764 83735.