Hotel management institute teams win two awards at millet recipe contest

The Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management (IHTM) at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak won two awards at the grand finale of the national level AMRUT–AICTE Millet Recipe Unleashing Talent competition held in Delhi. The IHTM teams were awarded Rs 1 lakh each for their standout dishes — kodo millet salad and bajra churma.

The AICTE’s AMRUT competition, an initiative celebrating the International Year of Millets, was launched to promote the health and environmental benefits of millets in Indian cuisine. A total of 1,298 teams from India participated, showcasing recipes across three main categories — starters (breakfast and snacks), main course (lunch and dinner) and desserts and confectioneries. Each category included three subcategories based on the millet composition. After a rigorous evaluation, 88 teams advanced to the grand finale, competing for top nine awards, said an MDU spokesman.

He said the awards distribution ceremony was graced by chief guest AICTE chairman TG Sitharam, guest of honour Sharmila Jain Oswal (known as the ‘Millet Woman of India’) and AICTE member secretary Rajive Kumar, who together celebrated the achievements of India’s top millet innovators in the AICTE Auditorium, New Delhi.

Ashish Dahiya, team leader and IHTM director, expressed pride in the MDU’s historic achievement, stating, “It is a record-breaking moment for our teams to have proven their mettle in this national millet challenge. This success showcases our students’ and faculty’s dedication, talent and innovative spirit.”