Delhi’s cultural calendar is set to welcome a new marquee event this February with the inaugural edition of Kahaani: Dilli Ki, a two-day festival devoted to the capital’s layered spirit, history, and living heritage. Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the Travancore Palace, the festival has been curated and conceptualised by Sara Abdullah Pilot and Aishwarya Jha of Indophile, with support from the Ministry of Culture.
Designed as a multi-sensory celebration, Kahaani: Dilli Ki invites visitors to journey through the many eras and emotions that define Delhi — from its Mughal grandeur to modern vitality. Through music, theatre, craft, conversation, and cuisine, the event aims to transform Travancore Palace into a living museum of the city’s evolving identity.
The performing arts programme features a roster of artists deeply inspired by Delhi’s cultural pulse. Deveshi Sahgal will open the festival on February 14, followed by performances from Sonam Kalra and the acclaimed band Indian Ocean on February 15. The line-up also includes Kathak by Gauri Diwakar, dastangoi by Ashhar Haque, and evocative street theatre performances, drawing from Delhi’s traditions of performance and oral storytelling.
A Feast of Flavours and Memories
A key highlight of the festival is its rich culinary showcase, curated by author and food historian Anoothi Vishal and produced by EVH International. The curation explores Delhi’s diverse gastronomic histories, Mughal, Kayastha, and Baniya presented through six home cooks representing different communities. Alongside these intimate heritage kitchens, the city’s beloved street food icons will make a vibrant appearance.
Adding an experiential layer to the food journey, Edible Archives, led by Chef Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar, will present a tactile installation inspired by Khari Baoli, Delhi’s famed spice market. Visitors can engage their senses by creating their own spice blends and tasting dishes that reinterpret Delhi’s culinary landscape through scent and memory.
Dialogues, Archives, and Artisans
The festival also features a curated series of conversations and exhibitions exploring Delhi’s architecture, literature, and memory. Confirmed speakers include William Dalrymple, Swapna Liddle, Shalini Passi, Madhulika Liddle, Aishwarya Tipnis, and Ratish Nanda, among others.
A photography exhibition by Mahatta Photo Studio will showcase rare archival images documenting the city’s evolution, alongside a vintage photo booth offering retro keepsakes. Complementing this is Rathin Mitra’s centenary exhibition, Ink & Empire, which traces the transformation of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Crafts Bazaar will bring together traditional artisans from Delhi and beyond — from kalai workers of Old Delhi to embroidery masters and terracotta artists — with live demonstrations and craft interactions underscoring the city’s role as a confluence of communities and design traditions.
Reimagining the Capital’s Heritage
In the words of its curators, Kahaani: Dilli Ki is “a tribute to Delhi’s living heritage — its resilience, plurality, and creative energy.” The festival positions heritage not as static nostalgia but as a continuing dialogue between the city’s past and its contemporary cultural imagination.
Founded by Sara Abdullah Pilot and Aishwarya Jha, Indophile, the festival’s creative force is a multidisciplinary cultural venture focused on reinterpreting Indian heritage through experiential design, gastronomy, craft, and performance.
Event Details:
- Venue: Travancore Palace, New Delhi
- Dates: 14 & 15 February 2026
- Curated by: Sara Abdullah Pilot and Aishwarya Jha of Indophile
- Supported by: Ministry of Culture
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
