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Vikas Khanna’s ‘Utsav’ – The Cool Cookbook That You Can’t Have!
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Obamas have it. So do the Pope and the Dalai Lama. And Queen Elizabeth too. As does Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan. But unless you’re world-famous or have loads of moolah you probably won’t get your hands on ‘Utsav’ – Vikas Khanna’s beautiful book of Indian celebrations and festivals. That’s because he’s made only 12 customized editions and over 12 years has presented it to some of the world’s movers and shakers.
What was the idea of presenting the book to global dignitaries?
“I wanted to do something totally different. We launched the book at Cannes Festival 2015 and then at Harvard University. We began presenting ‘Utsav’ to the global leaders who inspire us and are the greatest ambassadors-friends of India,” he says. The list included President Obama and vice President Biden, the Pope, Dalai Lama, Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon and Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg. From India it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Lata Mangeshkar.
The copy that he made for the late Steve Jobs was finally sold in auction for a whopping 3 million rupees. So is the book made of gold? It is indeed made of gold leaf and is probably the most expensive cookbook – the money raised went toward feeding 200,000 children through the Smile Foundation.
So what are the strengths of ‘Utsav’ and what can we learn from it?
Well, we did more than get a peek – here are some of the best images from the book which show what really needs to be celebrated about India – its many religions and its diversity, its humanity and its traditions. India has its difficulties but by and large India is a synonym for oneness and unity where many cultures and religions live – for the most – peacefully together.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the book Khanna shares the varied religious spots and celebrations and the many dishes that Indians share on their big religious days. I remember how Hindu and Muslim friends would celebrate together on Diwali or Eid and the delicious tastes of mixed celebrations. Indian food is varied and wonderful, with each community sharing its own flavors and methods and dishes.
“We inherit festivals from our ancestors.
They define how we share, our history, ceremonies, rituals, celebrations and our civilizations,” writes Khanna.
Khanna, who is the chef at the Michelin rated Junoon Restaurant in New York and the celebrity host of the TV show MasterChef India, is on to ever more adventures. He is currently involved in the making of Buried Seeds, a documentary about his life by filmmaker Andrei Severny.
Since you can’t buy ‘Utsav’ yet – you can do the next best thing – cook without the cookbook! Vikas has graciously shared some of his best recipes and the photos with us in the accompanying post, so you can celebrate all the big Indian festivals at home with authentic regional dishes! Bon appetit!!
Recipes from the Major Festivals of India – Check them out here!
Celebrating the Festivals of India
5 Comments
Via Instagram
vikaskhannagroupThe cool cookbook you can’t have!
bit.ly/2o7pg8U
Thank you @lassi_with_lavina for being a support and a great ambassador of India forever. ❤
62 comments
marish_eulalinLucky mann!!!
pooja_sweety_pie👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😘😘
tanvithakerGreat sir keep it up😃
falu_parmar16Oh my god… Its really dreamy,,,(this post)
jaiinsuman16Amazing,,, wonderful.. Unbelievable..Keep it up..
thasneem_salihaWell done chef 👏hats off chef 👌👌
meeta.v.mistryWowwwwww amazing👌👌👌👍
pallavi_mahakalkarSo Achievement Sir..
shikhapathak_786😍
nayeemmohammad50Excellent vikas nd lovvvvv uu uuummaahhhhh
my_insta_storyAwesome!! You are truly blessed..
101.princess.xWell done for your achievement vikasji. 👏👏👌🏼👌🏼👍👍
ariba_sidd028You yourself is an #UTSAV for me…!!!💕💕😘😘
monikaarya2473Great UTSAV for me
thebrice_24@vikaskhannagroup you are the super chef 😄 you have made we Indians soo proud of you n we Indians can proudly say that we have the world’s best chef
navneeta_14I hv a dream to hold #UTSAV, I hv a bliss to celebrate #UTSAV, I hv You in my life as an #UTSAV. So no regrets. More glories Ur ways Vikas ji ❤💕❤💕❤
raidah.noorO my dream to
lassi_with_lavinaThank you Vikas – do tell your fans to visit http://www.lassiwithlavina.com and enjoy your interview too over there along with all the recipes!
ruchip14Cool title 😂 yes, sadly, we cant hv it😫
bediinderpalsinghVery proud of you Vikas…
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sneha dhurve and 68 others liked your Tweet
Mar 26: The cool cookbook you can’t have!
http://bit.ly/2o7pg8U pic.twitter.com/nZRe2YFrJ0
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Mehri Afroz and 20 others liked a Tweet you were mentioned in
Mar 27: Thank @lavinamelwani ji. https://twitter.com/lavinamelwani/status/846194069311246336 …
Mehri Afroz Seema Hakhu Kachru D Apoorva Soumya Khatri Kochuthresya Rony Juli Rajput Garima Verma Harsha PRIYANKAツ Mohini masih rjammwal Mamini sahoo Babita Bera
Mar 28
PRIYANKAツ and Nancy mehra Retweeted a Tweet you were mentioned in
Mar 27: Thank @lavinamelwani ji. https://twitter.com/lavinamelwani/status/846194069311246336 …
PRIYANKAツ Nancy mehra
Nvashi0323 @nishavashi23 Mar 27
@lavinamelwani @TheVikasKhanna yes so true d cool cookbook everyone can’t have!!
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Mamini sahoo @MaminiSahoo Mar 27
@TheVikasKhanna @lavinamelwani wow
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Hinal liked some Tweets you were mentioned in
Mar 27: @lavinamelwani @TheVikasKhanna That’s true
Mar 27
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Mar 27: @lavinamelwani @TheVikasKhanna This very unfortunate for us we couldn’t have this legendary cookbook.
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Suresh Kumar @Unique_Suresh02 Mar 27
@lavinamelwani @TheVikasKhanna utshav is the best combination of India 😘😘😍😍
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Ojaswani Bhalla @bhalla_ojaswani Mar 27
@lavinamelwani @TheVikasKhanna That’s true
0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
Sonia @Sonia26369264 Mar 27
@lavinamelwani @TheVikasKhanna This very unfortunate for us we couldn’t have this legendary cookbook.
Mar 27
Bhoomika Agarwal and 19 others liked your Tweet
Mar 26: The cool cookbook you can’t have!
http://bit.ly/2o7pg8U pic.twitter.com/nZRe2YFrJ0
Bhoomika Agarwal Archana Mohammed Elyaas fauziasultan9@gmail. Vandana Tiwari Arnab Pal Sahil Khan Daksha Watts Nrusinh bigsrkfan Jasmin Sisodiya Ananda Valli Komalmohapatra PRIVIKAS
Mar 27
Komalmohapatra and 3 others Retweeted your Tweet
Mar 26: The cool cookbook you can’t have!
http://bit.ly/2o7pg8U pic.twitter.com/nZRe2YFrJ0
Komalmohapatra Vikas Khanna Dana Pancakes………⚡🍪
Mar 27
Swati Panigrahi and 69 others liked a Tweet you were mentioned in
Mar 27: Thank @lavinamelwani ji. https://twitter.com/lavinamelwani/status/846194069311246336 …
Swati Panigrahi Hinal sonia abbott🇮🇳 Mehak Kapila Praful Barbudhe Sulagna Das Mandita Paul PRIVIKAS FAISAL JUTT Kinjal Oza Ketasivakumar Dana Hardee C. K. Sreeja B S
Mar 27
Nancy mehra and 15 others Retweeted a Tweet you were mentioned in
Mar 27: Thank @lavinamelwani ji. https://twitter.com/lavinamelwani/status/846194069311246336 …
Nancy mehra Hinal Mehak Kapila PRIVIKAS Dana Vikas Khanna FanPage Vikashiny Madhavi kumari#Madhu Ritika Singh Akash Rai Am’s love Mashup😍 Pancakes………⚡🍪 Dimple farheen (AK’S) QUEEN
Mamini sahoo @MaminiSahoo Mar 27
@TheVikasKhanna @lavinamelwani wow
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🚀 @SpaceCoastGal Mar 27
@TheVikasKhanna This looks absolutely incredible!
Sonia @Sonia26369264 Mar 27
@TheVikasKhanna U valued the Incredible India; its divine culture through food that’s bind everyone. Binding the rainbow of religions in one
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Vikas KhannaVerified account @TheVikasKhanna
Vikas Khanna Retweeted Lavina Melwani
Thank @lavinamelwani ji.
Vikas Khanna added,
Lavina Melwani @lavinamelwani
The cool cookbook you can’t have!
http://bit.ly/2o7pg8U
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