Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

President gets a taste of Kerala cuisine

Thiruvananthapuram: Hotel Mascot, the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation’s (KTDC) flagship property in the city, got the rare honour to play host to President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday.

The five-star hotel was also the venue outside the Raj Bhavan to host the official dinner of Governor R.L. Bhatia to the President. However, Mr. Bhatia could not attend the state banquet held in the hotel as he was indisposed.

The first citizen on her arrival in the convention complex of the hotel around 7.30 p.m. was received by Cherian Philip, chairman of the KTDC, K.G. Mohanlal, managing director of the KTDC, and Kuruvila John, Secretary to the Governor, in front of the Symphony Hall.

Mrs. Patil was accompanied by her husband, Devisingh Shekhawat, and her secretary, Christy Fernandes.

Mrs. Patil later moved on to the Sonata Hall to watch a Kathakali performance by a troupe from Margi. S. Sreenivasan explained the story ‘Bhagavad dhoot’ to the invitees. Enchakkat Ramachandran Pillai donned the role of Sree Krishna, Vijayakumar that of Panchali, Attingal Peethambaran of Duryodhanan and Murali of Dushasanan.

Later, Mrs. Patil attended the dinner hosted by the Governor at the Symphony Hall. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Speaker K. Radhakrishnan, Chief Justice of the High Court H.L. Dattu, the former Chief Ministers K. Karunakaran and Oommen Chandy, the former Governors M.M. Jacob and Fathima Beevi, Ministers, freedom fighters, leaders of political parties and top Government officials and high-ranking officials of the armed forces attended.

The highlight of the state banquet was the band of the Indian Air Force.

The dishes, prepared by 20 experienced chefs of the KTDC, were served to the invitees at the same time by 66 personnel.

‘Appam,’ chappati, cutlet, rice, pulav, chicken curry prepared in traditional Kerala style, fish fry, Travancore soup and tender coconut soup figured in the menu.

Mrs. Patil who had arrived in the city during the election campaign to the highest office in the country also stayed in the hotel.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Rare artefacts on show at Malayalam exhibition
VS: Munnar mission will continue
Exams postponed
SSLC examinations from March 12
State fulfilling duty to students: Baby
Ezhuthachan Award for ONV
Voters’ list revision
CPI(M) misusing police: Chandy
Spirit seized
The Hindu-Young World painting contest date extended
RSS activist killed
Traffic disruption
KC(J) to vacate standing committee chair
Video film fete signs off
Eight houses destroyed in erosion
President gets a taste of Kerala cuisine
Not a first attempt to focus on women: Adoor
SBT staff go on one-day strike
Kerafed to procure coconut at Rs.4

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu