Etiquette and Dinner Diplomacy in India

“Mr. Modi is vegetarian and does not drink alcohol. At functions he attends, public or private, alcohol is removed from view; at wedding receptions, for example, his security agents have had bars closed before his arrival.” — Above, traditional vegetarian Indian fare. Image provided by Elizabeth Sóos of Auersmont Etiquette 

                             

“Modi Served World Leaders a Meatless Meal, and His Critics Pounced: Opposition politicians said a vegetarian dinner served at a diplomatic summit misrepresented India’s culinary heritage. A minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government rejected the criticism.” 

— The New York Times, 9/2026

“According to a New York Times article, “The world leaders who dined together at the BRICS summit in India over the weekend were served plate after plate of delicacies: Cubes of paneer simmered in gravy, Himalayan morel mushrooms with saffron, lentil broth with tomatoes and curry leaves. Meat was conspicuously absent.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political opponents, who rarely miss a chance to criticize him, accused him of promoting an incomplete image of India’s culinary landscape. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the lower house of Parliament, pointed out on social media that most Indians are not vegetarian.” Was this an actual problem? Or was this simply an excuse for various political factions to rattle cages?

Kiren Rijiju, a minister in Mr. Modi’s government said, “I can’t believe that Congress party is making politics even on the food menu served to the leaders of BRICS nations,” referring to Mr. Gandhi’s Indian National Congress political party. He is quoted as saying the dishes reflected India’s “diverse regional traditions.”

Food has somehow become increasingly polarizing during Mr. Modi’s time as PM. Mr. Modi has a Hindu nationalist base and vegetarianism has particular religious and cultural associations among the upper castes Hindus and in Hindu communities in parts of northern and western India. Though many Hindus do eat meat, Modi’s government has, in recent years, sidelined Muslims and other groups, to promote Hindu causes.

The BRICS dinner was not an isolated example, as it was shown among a few others listed in the article. Noted the Times, “President Patrick Herminie of Seychelles and President To Lam of Vietnam are among the world leaders who were served vegetarian meals during visits to New Delhi this year.” 

In an interview with Keri Matwick, a scholar at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore who studies food and culinary diplomacy. she said that meals served to visiting dignitaries can have an important diplomatic function, adding that,  “It’s a way to try to highlight something about the country to another country… it can also be a way to show respect to a visiting leader or facilitate conversation.”

“At other diplomatic gatherings, food has been used to set the tone. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Britain were served hot dogs during a picnic at President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s family estate in Hyde Park, N.Y. ‘People laughed because of how informal it was but it added a uniqueness’ to the event,” according to Ms. Matwick. — Above, more traditional vegetarian Indian fare. Image provided by Elizabeth Sóos of Auersmont Etiquette 

Keep in mind that diplomatic menus can also cause offense, as was the case when President Trump was in South Korea for a 2017 state dinner. The South Korean host served shrimp caught near islands claimed by Japan, yet controlled by South Korea. This prompted  a complaint from an angry Tokyo.

“Ultimately, the goal of diplomatic meals is to help foster good relations,” Ms. Matwick told the Times, adding the caveat, if a meal is not handled well, “it can spark a lot of controversy.” — From an article by Yan Zhuang and Alex Travelli for the New York Times, Sept, 2026

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia