D.Y. Patil Welcomes Dr. Chef Kaviraj Khialani as Judge for Halloween-Themed Pumpkin Festival

Dr. Chef Kaviraj Khialani Invited As Guest Of Honor & Judge For The Pumpkin Festival -Halloween Theme At D.Y. Patil University School Of Hospitality Management & Tourism Studies On- 31st October 2025

Culinary arts & talent showcase events have been a part of the hospitality industry all across the world as it was Halloween time of the year! The occasion and festivities displayed a great number of creative ideas and imagination at its best, be it the décor and set ups, the food and beverage, the costumes and make up and the overall feel has been very mesmerising. 

Keeping this in mind the team at the school of hospitality management thought of putting up a Pumpkin Carnival with the Halloween theme, conceptualised, planned, organised and executed by the students under the able guidance of their respected faculties. The invite for the same came to me quite as a surprise when one of their second-year students from the school Mr. Parag Kotak connected with me via social media and expressed his genuine interest of having me come to their event and check out this event and judge the various contests as a part of the fest!

Further upon having officially connected by their French faculty and event coordinating faculty Ms. Vandana Maira who was very keen as well on having me visit the campus for the same happened to give me a clear picture on what exactly will be done during this day long fest by the students, I was quite convinced and anxious enough to be there and check out the various talent shows by the very enterprising student groups. The event was scheduled for 31st October 2025 at 10.30 am at their campus in Navi Mumbai. I happened to be there before time and was extended a warm welcome as per hospitality standards by ATG sop system which was very heart warming. The faculty members too were right there for escorting and ensuring that all was in place. After a brief refreshment session, I was taken around the campus and shown the various labs and locations where the sessions for students are conducted which was very impressive and I got to see the new version and re-vamped look of the campus after many years.

The event flow started with me by inaugurating the venue scheduled for the same which happened by cutting the ribbon and there inside the room was a view that was a pleasure for the eyes and it looked just wow! The students had decorated the hall beautifully with Halloween theme cut outs, and posters etc which made the feel just too good! The hosting team for the event too looked great in their Halloween theme outfits and make-up. It was a complete glam show! After having been welcomed with a floral bouquet by Ms.Aarti, vice-principal of the college and being seated on the judge’s stage and chair the event started off with the Halloween theme ramp walk and a beautifully English & French combo song which was sung beautifully by the trio team headed by Sasha & Danish!

The ramp walk was a well-planned showcase of walk the style with a perfect combo of personality clubbed with confidence and poise, the outfits and the look display were too good and was well in sync with the theme of the event fest with over 25 plus contestants from the hospitality and cabin crew course students who were very enthusiastically happy to be there for the fest! The next round of events was the culinary contest where students in groups prepared some wonderful Halloween delicacies which included dishes from the hot kitchen, bakery and also clubbed with a innovative mocktail as well. The recipes were too yummy from the pumpkin ice-cream to the pumpkin paneer nachos, the pumpkin falafels with hummus and pita. There was a very interesting recipe showcase by one of the contestant Deepak Dawda as well who did a French influenced display presentation of a carved pumpkin- melon combo which had fried chicken fingers at the base and drip down pumpkin sauce from the top which was a delight for the eyes and the balance overall too was good, much deserved prize winner!

There were other students too who put their best foot forward ensuring that the use of pumpkin was done most effectively and to make sure that the dishes turned out to be the best! the table set ups, the way of explaining the dishes,the overall confidence levels of the students was great! Parag being one of the core committee member for the event along with his team mates ensured that all was in place. The mocktail recipes too with berries, kokum, cranberry concoctions and beyond were well stirred and shaken!

Post lunch we decided to commence with the final round for the ramp walk contestants who were now shortlisted to 10 finally who had to face a question round and be further brought down to 3 winners! The question rounds were fun and I had a good time asking the contestants impromptu questions to check their on-the-spot reactions and replies in order to be judged for their poise- personality and communication on the whole! We finally decided upon the three winners and commenced with the prize distribution ceremony after a brief chat and interaction with the students present for the event. I got a chance to share some of my quality experience of three decades with the hospitality industry and academia which was in benefit of the students on the whole.

The awards ceremony included surprise gifts and goodies which I offered and presented the student winners from my side. I also got an opportunity to present the winning students with a copy of my authored cookbooks which would be surely treasured by them as memories! The vote of thanks and finale of the event was very heart warming and touching. The core committee of the students were well guided by the faculties all the way. The send-off formality was duly completed by Ms. Vandana Maira along with Parag & Danish after a brief interaction with Ms.Aarti- Vice-Principal of the school of hospitality studies.

“Hospitality Industry is always one step ahead when it comes to offering the very best of creative ideas coupled with confidence & presentation skills which are meant to impress our valued guests all the time in order to add values and memorable experiences to be cherished for long” student communities at colleges all across must encourage and motivate them to perform and display their talent at their very best be it solo or in teams! I personally feel that mentoring & coaching the budding hoteliers of tomorrow in the right direction is of utmost importance in order to bring out the best in the benefit of our industry summarised Dr. Chef Kaviraj Khialani upon leaving the campus at the end of the fest at D.Y. Patil School of Hospitality Studies.