Let’s Give Back’s Kahin Gum Na ho Jayein Season 7 finale celebrates India’s culinary heritage
On February 8th, 2025, the highly anticipated National Cookery Contest – Kahin Gum Na Ho Jayein Season 7 reached its spectacular conclusion at the Indian Culinary Institute and NCHM in Noida. The contest, which is considered one of the most prestigious platforms for culinary talent in the country, featured 50 state finalists from across India, each competing with a live cooking demonstration to showcase their exceptional culinary skills.
After intense competition Fathima Sheeba from Kanyakumai, emerged as the National Winner, followed by Sumona Deb from Jharkhand as 1st Runner-up and Charanjeet Kaur from Jammu , as 2nd Runner-up, and Priyanka Jain as Jury’s Choice Award. Each of the top contestants received prize money of ₹51,000, ₹31,000, ₹21,000 & ₹11000/- respectively. In recognition of Contestants outstanding performances, special Awards were presented to various categories to Nelufar Siddique, Rhushat Kulkarni of IHM Mumbai, Madhusmita Khatua, Anshmeet Singh, Subhadra Patel & Shilpa Jain, further celebrating the diversity and richness of India’s culinary traditions.
The event was organized by Let’s Give Back, a registered NGO under the banner of Back to Roots. The initiative, founded by the late Ms. Babeetta Saxena in 2016, continues her legacy under the leadership of Retd. Col. Atul Saxena, co-founder of the trust, after her passing on May 16, 2021. This year’s theme, “Hamari Virasat Hamare Vyanjan”, underscored the importance of preserving and promoting traditional recipes that highlight India’s rich culinary heritage.
The contest saw state-level competitions held across 13 states, including Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and J&K. The winners from each state advanced to the Grand Finale, where they competed for the coveted national title.
The event was graced by distinguished chefs and dignitaries from the food and hospitality industry, including Padma Shri Pushpesh Pant, Chef Manjeet Gill & Dr. Sandeep Marwah. The team also extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Gyan Bhushan, Sr. Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India for graciously hosting the event and contributing to its success.
The flawless execution of this grand event was led by Chief Coordinator Reena Mukherjee assisted by National Coordinator Vandana Jaggi, under the guidance of Co-Founder Atul Saxena, with valuable support from the state coordinators and the administrative team.
This remarkable event not only celebrated India’s culinary talent but also reinforced the importance of preserving the nation’s cultural culinary heritage for future generations.
