Mumbai : The annual cultural charity fundraising event, ‘Melting Pot – Consular Corps Charity Carnival’, was recently held at the Trident, Nariman Point. The 19th edition saw participation from 23 Consulates.
Few names like Piloo Tata, Rajashree Birla, Madhusudan Agrawal and Kamal Khetan supported the cause and contributed to the charities along with the Diplomatic community. Around 400 people witnessed and experience the food and dance of different countries.
This year, 23 Consulates participated namely – Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Iran, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sweden, Canada, Gabon, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, Uganda and United Kingdom. They showcased their traditions, customs and culture through their cuisine, drinks and dance. The funds raised from this event will be donated to four charities:
The Consulate of Indonesia showcased their sekar japun dance and the Consulate of Brazil enthralled the guests with capoeira which is an afro brazillian martial arts. The South African consulate surprised the crowd with their Flash Mob on the popular track Mafikizolo Ndihamba and Sumer Gill gave a star performance with a few popular Bollywood songs.
The food exhibited by different consulates ranged from Belgium chocolates, Ethiopian coffee, Turkish delights Korean gimbap, kirju koer from Estonia, Indonesian Satay and Argentinean wine.
In all these years, the Melting Pot – Consular Corps Charity Carnival has supported over 50 NGOS. The NGOs selected every year go through a rigorous selection process where they showcase the work they have done so far with a proposal of how best they will use the funds, if selected .
Gul Kripalani, Convenor of the Melting Pot – Consular Corps Charity Carnival said, “The success of the Melting Pot – Consular Corps Charity Carnival makes me proud. In a country like India where fusion food is gaining great importance, this is one event where the consulates in Mumbai have joined together to weave an evening with food and to push for the upliftment of the poor and the less privileged. Events like this give us a better understanding of each other’s culture. I would like to thank all my partners for supporting us since the inception.”
Jordan Reeves, Consul General of Canada said, “Canada believes in diversity and this is why we are proud to have participated in this year’s edition of the Melting Pot. From Coast to Coast, Canada offers both tradition and innovation when it comes to pleasing the palates of discerning travellers. Whether you prefer food trucks, local brew pubs, or a luxurious dining experience, we have got it all! This year we were delighted to offer a taste of Canada, with help of Canadian Chef Kelvin from Bastian. This evening witnessed a true amalgamation of cultures and cuisines from the globe. We congratulate each participating country and the Consular Corps for coming together for such a noble cause!”
