Pilaf Festival in Moscow gathered crowds

Traditional Pilaf Festival was held at the VDNKH (National Economy Exhibition Center) in Moscow On March 25th, 2017. The event was sponsored by a number of local ethnic associations and the State Committee for Tourism of Uzbekistan and Association of Cooks of Tashkent.

Pilaf Cooks at Moscow Exhibition

The festival marked the coming of Navruz, Oriental New Year that is traditionally celebrated on the day of vernal equinox, or 21st of March. The New Year in the East comes together with spring and awakening of nature, and peoples of Central Asian region, including Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyzes, Turkmens, Kurds, Iranians, Pakistanis etc. are all celebrating it in a very similar manner, including cooking of pilaf and giving presents to neighbors and children in the street.

Pilaf is considered as the king of local dishes. It is always cooked at great festivities and to commemorate big family events such as weddings. In the Uzbek Cuisine, it is the central component, the main course in any festivity, traditionally cooked by men.

There are dozens of recipes for pilaf, and each region has particular methods and even ingredients to add to this tasty dish. Many of such varieties were demonstrated and tasted by the public at the Pilaf Festival.