with Sanjana Jothiprakasam |
Semmozhi Poonga hosted the Refugee Food Fair to commemorate World Refugee Day on 24 and 25 June 2023, exhibiting traditional food from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
Celebrating World Refugee Day, themed ‘ Hope away from home’, Semmozhi Poonga came alive with a vibrant Food Fair organised by the State Government in Partnership with the Organisation for Eelam Refugees' Rehabilitation (OfERR), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Advantage Foods (Hot Breads, Writers’ Cafe etc). The event served as a platform to celebrate the resilience and hope exhibited by refugees from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Afghanistan. This event began at 12 noon and ended at 8pm on both days.
Various delicious cuisines reflecting the cultural heritage of these countries, including Puttu, Midhi Vedi Roll, Kabuli Pulao, Firni, and Dhooi Pila, were on sale for the general public to enjoy. Among the four stalls, the Sri Lankan food stalls, ‘Olaiputtu’ and ‘Ravi Bakery’ were registered restaurants from Thoothukudi. Several of the staff of these restaurants are refugees who still live in camps. The funds raised from the food fair will benefit the refugees. This initiative is a step towards supporting the food security needs and overall well-being of refugees, as they strive to rebuild their lives away from their homelands.
A Sri Lankan refugee shared her experience of living in Tamil Nadu as a refugee with us. Her family moved to India when she was very young and hasn’t been able to return to Sri Lanka due to its hostile situation. Though the government has helped them live here by providing food, shelter and education, they haven’t been granted Indian citizenship and continue to live as refugees, making it difficult to get employed. Life as a refugee in Tamil Nadu is not as comfortable as it is for a citizen, but they have got used to living this way. Someday, she says, she hopes to return to her homeland.
The event was well received by Chennaites. The visitors said they appreciated the initiative taken by the various organisations to support the refugees and that they thoroughly enjoyed the event. A few were shocked to know that India had refugees from Afghanistan, but at the same time were proud that India is accepting and helping refugees irrespective of their nationality. They also suggested that India could provide more facilities and give refugees skill training to help them be more independent.
The food stalls. Photo credit: Sanjana Jothiprakasam
The Food Festival event banner. Photo Credit: Sanchita Bhattacharjee