New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni got the first taste of the finest culinary traditions of Kerala at a three-day festival that opened in the national capital today.

Ms Soni inaugurated the 'Spicy Heritage of Kerala' festival at the Travancore House at a function presided over by former Kerala Information and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M M Hassan.

Lauding the achievements of the southern state in the fields of tourism and culture, she said Kerala had come to stay as one of the world's top tourist destinations.

''Kerala's food, Ayurveda and dances have enchanted people all over the world,'' said Ms Soni, who suggested public-private partnership to take the tourism industry forward. ''You have got everything to offer anybody in the world,'' she told an audience mostly comprising of Keralites living in the capital before going on to taste idlis and 'nenthra pazham' (a variety of banana from the state).

Organised by Kala Dhvani, a Kerala-based NGO, the festival has food stalls, culinary classes and cultural events like 'panchavadyam', 'theyyam' and 'mohiniyattam' performances.

UNI