South Lebanon, September 30, 2026: Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have organised a multi-day Culinary Exchange Programme for local women in South Lebanon, using Indian cuisine as a platform to promote cultural understanding and strengthen ties with local communities.
The initiative was organised by INDBATT (Prachand Paanch) through its FAST and Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) teams. A total of 25 local women participated in the programme, which combined interactive cooking demonstrations with practical sessions on preparing popular Indian dishes.
During the programme, participants learned to prepare a variety of Indian recipes, including Butter Chicken, Butter Chana Masala, Sookhe Aloo, Pulao and Garlic Naan. The sessions also introduced traditional desserts such as Firni and Coconut Sweets, alongside baked items including croissants and cakes.
Rather than limiting the programme to demonstrations, the Indian contingent encouraged the participants to take part in the cooking process, giving them hands-on experience with Indian culinary techniques and traditions.
A key aspect of the initiative was ensuring that the recipes could be recreated by participants at home. The instructors therefore focused on ingredients that are readily available in Lebanese markets while explaining how Indian spices, herbs and other ingredients contribute to the flavour, aroma and nutritional characteristics of different dishes.
The culinary sessions also provided an informal setting for interaction between Indian peacekeepers and members of the local community. Through food and shared learning, the programme brought elements of Indian and Lebanese culture together and provided participants with an opportunity to learn more about Indian traditions.
At the conclusion of the programme, Colonel Prasoon Singh, SM, CONTICO, INDBATT, presented certificates and gifts to the participants. Indian cuisine cookbooks were also distributed to help the women continue experimenting with the recipes they had learned during the sessions.
The enthusiastic participation of the local women reflected the positive response to the initiative, which was aimed at strengthening mutual understanding, goodwill and people-to-people connections between INDBATT, UNIFIL and communities in South Lebanon.
Beyond its operational responsibilities under the UN mission, the Indian contingent regularly undertakes community-oriented initiatives as part of its civil-military engagement. Programmes involving education, healthcare, skills and cultural interaction form an important part of efforts to build trust and maintain close relations with local communities.
The culinary exchange highlighted how something as simple as sharing food can create opportunities for dialogue and friendship across cultures — bringing Indian and Lebanese communities closer through flavours, traditions and shared experiences.
