Mohan Bagan vs East Bengal: A Feast of Football and Bengali Cuisine

HYDERABAD: Sunday’s showpiece event between India’s two iconic domestic football opponents, Mohan Bagan and East Bengal, will be watched celebrated by fans of the two arch-rivals over a luncheon by their Bangladeshi and Bengali fans living in the surroundings of Hitec City, whose passion for culinary art and football binds them together.

The organisers, keen on maintaining the authentic flavour and taste of mouth-watering dishes, have ordered hilsa fish from Mawa Gahat in Bangladesh and tiger prawns from Bengal to complement the showdown’s excitement on the ground.

Saswata Ray, founder of Aarohan, a group formed by Bengali-speaking families in Hitec City, Kondapur and Gachibowli, said: “We will be having an authentic cuisine, comprising hilsa fish and tiger prawns. The participants will be wearing jerseys of their respective clubs.”

Dalia Ray from Kokapet said, “Hilsa fish that emerge from Padma River in Bangladesh are only available during the monsoon, for which we wait all through the year. I am happy that we are gathering in large numbers to relish it. A special delicacy is ‘Bhapa Ilish’ where the hilsa fish is marinated with mustard paste, mustard oil and green chilly wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in steam.”

Panchali Choudhury, a resident of Narsingi, said, “the container bringing hilsa fish from Mawa Gahat reached Hyderabad on Friday morning.”

Robin Samanta, head chef of a star hotel, said, “there are around hundred fish recipes that are popular among Bengali families. The best of Bengali food is available in several food joints in the city. Sunday’s exclusive event will be memorable outings for all those who will get to enjoy authentic hilsa fish Bengal tiger prawns, while catching football action.”