Rajasthan's traditional dishes are disappearing. Changing lifestyles and modern food habits are causing once-beloved dishes to fade into history.
Dipali Khandelwal, a Jaipur native, noticed this decline. She founded ‘The Kindness Meal’ to preserve and revive Rajasthan’s forgotten food heritage.
Her journey began as a personal quest — growing up in a joint family, she was surrounded by food traditions that shaped her love for cooking.
As she travelled across Rajasthan for work, she noticed how local food traditions were being lost, even in rural areas.
Dipali realised the urgency of documenting Rajasthan’s diverse cuisines — so she started researching recipes, ingredients, and the stories behind them.
She identifies nine distinct culinary zones across Rajasthan, each with its own unique food culture, shaped by geography and history.
Through The Kindness Meal, she visits families, listens to their stories, and documents age-old recipes passed down through generations.
Some of the dishes she’s helping preserve include dal baati churma, laal maas, gatte ki sabzi, ker sangri, and mohan thal.
She also organises curated dining experiences, pop-up food museums, and storytelling events to share Rajasthan’s rich culinary heritage with the world.
One of her most impactful initiatives is ‘Food Culture Play Dates,’ where children document their family recipes, ensuring these traditions live on.
‘The Kindness Meal’ has become more than just food — it is a bridge between generations, preserving cultural knowledge with every dish.