Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar in partnership with British Council India hosted the ‘Commonwealth Big Lunch’ here on Friday.
More than 30,000 staff and indigenous students of the institute took lunch with High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners and representatives from the High Commissions of 53 Commonwealth countries and British Council at a time at one place.
The delegates were accorded a traditional welcome by the students at KISS. They joined in various programmes at KIIT & KISS on 23rd March and took lunch with 27,000 students of KISS from 12 noon to 1 pm.
Ten dishes prepared by students of KISS formed part of the menu served in leaf plates. A handicraft exhibition by students of KISS and release of 53 white pigeons for global peace and harmony marked the mega event.
British Council is celebrating its 70 years of inception in the Commonwealth countries of the world. On this occasion, the British Council is organizing this kind of Mega Lunch.
KISS was the only organization selected from Asia along with four other Commonwealth countries including Australia, South Africa, Ghana and Edinburgh (UK) to host Commonwealth Big Lunch.
The objective is to encourage people to get together to celebrate their Commonwealth connections through food.
Mr Alan Gemmell OBE, Director, British Council India said, “We are inspired by the vision and determination of KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta to share the transformative power of education with tribal children”.
Through the Big Lunch at KISS, Bhubaneswar we also bring the celebrations of our 70th anniversary in India to Odisha, he added. Dr. Acyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS thanked British Council for selecting KISS to host Big Commonwealth Lunch.