BRICS Summit in Delhi: Leaders to Be Served Edible Lotus, Galouti Kebabs

India is hosting the 18th BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi this weekend, with the two-day programme scheduled at Bharat Mandapam on 12 and 13 September. The gathering brings together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries along with outreach invitees.

Among those attending are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Putin has already arrived in the national capital.

The summit is being held under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," which focuses on deepening cooperation among member countries.

An Indian spread for visiting delegations

Leaders, accompanied by spouses, diplomats and business delegations, are staying as guests at Delhi's luxury hotels, where chefs have designed special menus that blend Indian culinary traditions with contemporary and international influences.

The Taj Mahal, The Leela Palace and The LaLiT are among the properties hosting dignitaries. At The Taj Mahal, guests will be greeted with a collection of recipes curated by Taj chefs and inspired by their earliest culinary mentors, their mothers — an offering described as showcasing the spirit of Indian hospitality and the soul of its culinary traditions.

The spread includes spiced walnuts from Kashmir, Purani Dilli Maida Kaju, Maharashtra's Bhakarwadi, Rajasthan's Mini Kachori, Bengal's Kucho Nimki and Tamil Nadu's Murukku.

At The Leela Palace, chefs have prepared a handcrafted edible lotus made with rose, saffron and cardamom, paired with indigenous Indian fruits. The lotus was chosen for its layered significance as India's national flower and its appearance in the identity of BRICS India 2026. It is complemented by millet cookies, handmade granola bars and wellness infusions from the hotel group's holistic wellness programme, which was launched with food and nutrition consultant Dr Ankita Jalori and centres on the concepts of "Restore" and "Renew."

The hotel's restaurants and in-room dining are also featuring special dishes from Jamavar, its Indian restaurant. Its general manager, Preeti Makhija, said the team was preparing across security arrangements, reception protocols and special menus to create a memorable experience for delegates from five countries.

The specially curated menus incorporate Indian spices and traditional grains and ingredients, including barley, millet, jowar and sattu.

The LaLiT has also prepared a menu that moves beyond conventional banquet fare, offering refined interpretations of classics such as galouti kebabs and tandoor-baked breads, alongside a millet-forward selection. Distinctive preparations include braised eggplant with miso paste, simmered Chinese cabbage and kidney bean sweet Japanese style with amber sauce.

Summit schedule

The programme begins on Saturday with the arrival of leaders of BRICS member countries at Bharat Mandapam at 2 pm, followed by a closed session titled "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism" at 2:35 pm.

Leaders will then view the "Bharat Innovates" exhibition at 4:25 pm, followed by a family photograph and a joint tree plantation on the outside lawns. A gala dinner hosted by the Prime Minister is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

On Sunday, leaders of BRICS partner countries and outreach invitees arrive at 9:55 am, with a family photo at 10:35 am. An open session, "Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth," will be held at 10:50 am in the Summit Hall.