UNESCO Crowns Lucknow- Is Also Dying Inside!!
But while the city is being celebrated for its culinary genius, a silent irony simmers beneath the surdata-face. The recognition may have arrived just when the soul of Lucknow’s food culture is at risk.
Walk through Aminabad or Hazratganj today, and you’ll see what many locals quietly lament — iconic shops being replaced by glass-door franchises, authentic Awadhi recipes tweaked for “Instagram aesthetics,” and generations-old cooks replaced by quick-service efficiency.
Old-timers recall how kebab secrets were once whispered, not written — recipes guarded like family heirlooms. “Now,” says 65-year-old Rahim of Chowk, “we serve faster, not better.”
The UNESCO tag may bring tourism, funding, and international fame, but it also threatens to turn Lucknow’s food into a brand — packaged, commercial, and stripped of its warmth. The world will now queue up for “authentic” galouti kebabs that taste like fast food.
Locals who once took pride in their city’s slow-cooked traditions now fear that global attention could accelerate what modernization began — the loss of patience, passion, and preservation.
Ironically, Lucknow’s global glory may push it closer to losing its local essence.Because here’s the truth no one’s saying: sometimes, when the world starts celebrating you, it’s already too late to save what made you special.