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18th - 26th July, 2026
Desi Cultures
Desi Cultures
Fermentation, from India
for everyone curious about fermentation
Desi Cultures brings together fermentation practices rooted in the Indian subcontinent and connected global conversations. From everyday ferments to emerging research, this is a space to share, question, and learn—across disciplines and geographies.
buy tickets
for everyone curious about fermentation
Desi Cultures brings together fermentation practices rooted in the Indian subcontinent and connected global conversations. From everyday ferments to emerging research, this is a space to share, question, and learn—across disciplines and geographies.
Desi Cultures brings together fermentation practices rooted in the Indian subcontinent and connected global conversations. From everyday ferments to emerging research, this is a space to share, question, and learn—across disciplines and geographies.
buy tickets
for everyone curious about fermentation
Desi Cultures brings together fermentation practices rooted in the Indian subcontinent and connected global conversations. From everyday ferments to emerging research, this is a space to share, question, and learn—across disciplines and geographies.
Agenda
Online
Offline
20th July; 5 PM IST
Opening Keynote
Dolly Kikon
20th July; 6.30 PM IST
Desi Ferments Today
Payal Shah, Shubhra Chatterji, Jaya Bajaj, Aditya Kidambi, Shivani Unakar
21st July; 5 PM IST
Mountain Microbes: Fermentation in the Western Himalayas
Chef Prateek Sadhu, Chef Kamlesh Negi
21st July; 6.30 PM IST
Carrying Culture: Fermentation in the Diaspora
Vasunthara Ramasamy
22nd July; 5 PM IST
Fermentation & the Politics of Smell
Bao & Rahee Punyashloka
22nd July; 6.30 PM IST
Origins: Archaeology of Fermentation
Dr. Kurush Dalal
23rd July; 5 PM IST
North East Ferments: Practice & Place
Dr. Hissay Doma Lepcha, Chef Nik Asem
23rd July; 6.30 PM IST
Ferments at Scale // Building Businesses Through Fermentation
Namrata Sundaresan; Marc Tormo Altimira
24th July; 5 PM IST
Experimental Cultures: Koji, R&D & Innovation
Chef Gayatri Desai, Prachet Sancheti
24th July; 6.30 PM IST
Closing Keynote
Kirsten Shockey (The Fermentation School)
Online
Offline
20th July; 5 PM IST
Opening Keynote
Dolly Kikon
20th July; 6.30 PM IST
Desi Ferments Today
Payal Shah, Shubhra Chatterji, Jaya Bajaj, Aditya Kidambi, Shivani Unakar
21st July; 5 PM IST
Mountain Microbes: Fermentation in the Western Himalayas
Chef Prateek Sadhu, Chef Kamlesh Negi
21st July; 6.30 PM IST
Carrying Culture: Fermentation in the Diaspora
Vasunthara Ramasamy
22nd July; 5 PM IST
Fermentation & the Politics of Smell
Bao & Rahee Punyashloka
22nd July; 6.30 PM IST
Origins: Archaeology of Fermentation
Dr. Kurush Dalal
23rd July; 5 PM IST
North East Ferments: Practice & Place
Dr. Hissay Doma Lepcha, Chef Nik Asem
23rd July; 6.30 PM IST
Ferments at Scale // Building Businesses Through Fermentation
Namrata Sundaresan; Marc Tormo Altimira
24th July; 5 PM IST
Experimental Cultures: Koji, R&D & Innovation
Chef Gayatri Desai, Prachet Sancheti
24th July; 6.30 PM IST
Closing Keynote
Kirsten Shockey (The Fermentation School)
Online
Offline
20th July; 5 PM IST
Opening Keynote
Dolly Kikon
20th July; 6.30 PM IST
Desi Ferments Today
Payal Shah, Shubhra Chatterji, Jaya Bajaj, Aditya Kidambi, Shivani Unakar
21st July; 5 PM IST
Mountain Microbes: Fermentation in the Western Himalayas
Chef Prateek Sadhu, Chef Kamlesh Negi
21st July; 6.30 PM IST
Carrying Culture: Fermentation in the Diaspora
Vasunthara Ramasamy
22nd July; 5 PM IST
Fermentation & the Politics of Smell
Bao & Rahee Punyashloka
22nd July; 6.30 PM IST
Origins: Archaeology of Fermentation
Dr. Kurush Dalal
23rd July; 5 PM IST
North East Ferments: Practice & Place
Dr. Hissay Doma Lepcha, Chef Nik Asem
23rd July; 6.30 PM IST
Ferments at Scale // Building Businesses Through Fermentation
Namrata Sundaresan; Marc Tormo Altimira
24th July; 5 PM IST
Experimental Cultures: Koji, R&D & Innovation
Chef Gayatri Desai, Prachet Sancheti
24th July; 6.30 PM IST
Closing Keynote
Kirsten Shockey (The Fermentation School)
SPEAKERS
Shubhra Chatterji
Founder & Co-Curator Desi Cultures
Payal Shah
Co-Curator Desi Cultures + Founder Kōbo Fermentary
Dr. Dolly Kikon
Anthropologist
Dr Kurush F Dalal
Archeologist, Culinary Anthropologist
Namrata Sundaresan
Co-founder, Käse
Dr. Hissay Doma Lepcha
Creator Kitchen Salubrious | Ferments from Sikkim
Vasunthara
food researcher, chef, writer
Marc Tormo Altimira
Coffee Entrepreneur | Coffee Ideas
Prachet Sancheti
Founder, Brown Koji Boy
Shivani Unakar
Producer - Desi Cultures + Food Researcher
Shivani Unakar
Producer - Desi Cultures + Food Researcher
Elizabeth Yorke
Co-founder - Edible Issues; Founder - Saving Grains
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Desi Cultures 2.0
Created by Shubhra Chatterji in August 2020, Desi Cultures is a gathering of fermentation-loving food folks, curious kitchens, and culture nerds.
Desi Cultures explores fermentation rooted in the Indian subcontinent — asking how microbes, memory, migration, climate, caste, taste, and everyday food practices shape what it means to ferment from a desi lens.
Supported by Edible Issues, Desi Cultures 2.0 is built by Shubhra Chatterj, Payal Shah, Shivani Unakar, and Elizabeth Yorke and brings together a growing fermentation community for a week of talks and exchanges.
Join online between 18–26 July, live or at your own pace.
Student passes available — email desicultures.in@gmail.com for details.
Created by Shubhra Chatterji in August 2020, Desi Cultures is a gathering of fermentation-loving food folks, curious kitchens, and culture nerds.
Desi Cultures explores fermentation rooted in the Indian subcontinent — asking how microbes, memory, migration, climate, caste, taste, and everyday food practices shape what it means to ferment from a desi lens.
Supported by Edible Issues, Desi Cultures 2.0 is built by Shubhra Chatterj, Payal Shah, Shivani Unakar, and Elizabeth Yorke and brings together a growing fermentation community for a week of talks and exchanges.
Join online between 18–26 July, live or at your own pace.
Student passes available — email desicultures.in@gmail.com for details.
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FAQ
What is Desi Cultures?
Who is this for?
When does the programme take place?
Do I need to attend everything live?
How do I access the sessions?
Is there a student discount?
Are there any in-person events?
Will recordings be available afterwards?
What is Desi Cultures?
Who is this for?
When does the programme take place?
Do I need to attend everything live?
How do I access the sessions?
Is there a student discount?
Are there any in-person events?
Will recordings be available afterwards?
What is Desi Cultures?
Who is this for?
When does the programme take place?
Do I need to attend everything live?
How do I access the sessions?
Is there a student discount?
Are there any in-person events?
Will recordings be available afterwards?