Eyeing world record, 5,000-kg 'khichdi' cooked by Delhi BJP

New Delhi: The BJP, in order to connect with Dalits, hosted a grand khichdi feast at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday where 5,000 kg of "samrasta khichdi" was cooked and served as part of its "Bhim Mahasangam" programme, party leaders said.

The event was a gathering of people from backward classes and was organised by the Delhi BJP.

BJP MP and Dalit leader Udit Raj, however, was conspicuous by his absence at the event, but the party leaders said not too much should be read into his absence.

The party leaders claimed that almost 5000 kilogram of khichdi was prepared and served on the occasion.

The khichdi was prepared with 400 kg rice, 100 kg lentils, 350 kg vegetables, 100 kg desi ghee, 100 litres of oil, 2,500 litres of water and 250 kg spices, one of the cooks said.

The 5,000-kg "samrasta khichdi" was cooked in one utensil, with rice and lentils collected from around three lakh Dalit households in the national capital with an aim to set a world record.

Chef Vishnu Manohar from Nagpur, who had earlier attempted a world record by preparing 3000 kilogram of khichdi in Nagpur, prepared the khichdi in a single vessel.

"I want khichdi to be declared the national food of India. Every country has its dish - sushi is of China, pizza of Italy, but India does not have its own dish," Manohar said.

"I have come to Delhi so that the central government here hears me out. Khichdi is something that is eaten in 80 per cent of the households in the evening. The rich also eat it because they do not want to eat oily stuff while the poor also eat it," Chef Vishnu Manohar said.

Delhi BJP SC Morcha president, Mohan Lal Gihara said khichdi was served to close to 25,000 people who thronged the Ramlila Maidan.