Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 2: The finale of State Level Contest of “Kahin Gum Na Ho Jayein – Season 8” was concluded in a vibrant and memorable event, held here today.
The competition witnessed enthusiastic participation from talented home chefs, food enthusiasts and professionals across the Union Territory.
The event was organized by Let’s Give Back, a registered NGO, in association with Studio KAVA and Jammu Club.
This season’s theme, “My State, My Plate,” highlighted the importance of preserving regional culinary traditions.
The event was graced by Gaurav Gupta, Secretary of Jammu Club, who attended as the chief guest and distributed prizes to the winners.
He lauded the participants for their creativity and congratulated the organizers for providing a national platform that blends culinary talent with a spirit of social contribution.
Sakeena Begum was declared as the winner, followed by Kanta Smailpuri as the 1st Runner-Up and Gunkirat Kour securing the position of 2nd Runner-Up.
Consolation Prizes were awarded to Arjun Sharma and Siya Sharma for their commendable performances.
Special recognitions went to Pooja Suri for Best Presentation, Madhvi Abrol for Best Attire, Nausheen for Best Drink and Preety Sharma along with Atul Kumar for Best Dessert (Upcoming Chefs).
A special mention was also made for Neeru Gulati under the senior citizen participation category.
The contest was supported by Padma Shri Awardee Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Bollywood actress Suchitra Pillai, both of whom continues to champion the spirit of this initiative.
The competition was held across 15 states, including Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir.
The top three winners from J&K will represent the Union Territory in the Grand Finale to be held in NCR, January 2026, where a total prize pool of Rs 1,50,000 awaits the national winners.
The jury panel included Chef Vinod Saini, Chef Kaushal, Chef Dr Sanjay and Dr Hemla Aggarwal.
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