NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gala dinner for Brics leaders and other visiting dignitaries is underway at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday evening, following the first day of the Brics Summit. The dinner is expected to conclude in the next 10 to 15 minutes.The evening features a specially curated Indian menu showcasing regional flavours and traditional preparations, along with a cultural performance by an ensemble of more than 100 artistes from India and other Brics member countries.
What’s on the dinner menu
The gala dinner features a specially curated Indian menu that brings together regional flavours, traditional recipes and contemporary interpretations of Indian cuisine.The meal begins with Khandvi Mille – Feuille, a steamed gram-flour roll tempered with mustard, coconut and curry leaves, served with Kesar mango, micro-greens and yoghurt dressing. The starters also include Khumb Galouti, tender pan-grilled mushroom kebabs with mint pearls, served on a bed of sheermal bread.The main course features Paneer Lababdar, soft cottage cheese cubes simmered in a rich gravy of shallots and tomato, alongside Gucchi Marmik, Himalayan morel mushrooms and tender asparagus gently simmered with saffron, raisins and mamra almonds.Other dishes on the menu include Carrot Bean Poriyal, made with carrots and green beans toasted in aromatic South Indian spices in hand-pressed virgin coconut oil and finished with freshly grated coconut. Thakkali Belle Saaru, a light lentil broth of toor dal enriched with fresh tomatoes and curry leaves, is also being served, along with Millet Pulao, Beetroot Raita and assorted Indian breads.The dessert selection includes Old Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi, pairing seasonal fruits and lightly whipped cream with a crispy sweet fritter, and Shahtoot Phirni, a slow-cooked pudding of milk and rice topped with sweet mulberries and gold leaf.
‘Brics Symphony’ at gala dinner
The dinner is being accompanied by ‘Brics Symphony’, a cultural performance featuring an ensemble of around 160 artistes, with Indian dancers and musicians forming the core of the troupe.Indian artistes are performing classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Kathak, representing different regions of the country. Traditional Indian instruments are also being featured alongside musicians from other Brics member countries.The performance, being coordinated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is expected to run for around 20 to 25 minutes and will include intermittent vocal renditions.Dinner follows packed first summit dayThe gala dinner comes after a busy opening day of the BRICS Summit, which brought together Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders and senior dignitaries in New Delhi.
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A New Delhi Declaration was adopted at the end of the first day of the summit. PM Modi also unveiled a 10-point roadmap for global governance reform under the BRICS framework and called for a ‘Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network’ to protect sailors facing heightened risks from global and regional crises.Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi and visiting leaders also visited the Bharat Innovates Exhibition at the Bharat Mandapam complex and participated in a tree-planting programme on the lawns of the convention centre.India assumed its fourth Brics chairship on January 1, 2026, with the chairship guided by the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’. The year also marks 20 years since the establishment of BRICS.
