South African diners will get a taste of the gastronomic delights of the Mughul dynasty as part of an annual 'shared history' festival that showcases the arts and culture of India.

A celebrated restaurant in an upmarket Johannesburg suburb is hosting a week-long special menu titled 'The Imperial Cuisine of the Mughals' with award-winning Indian chef Vikram Udaygiri flown in especially to supervise the preparation of the dishes on offer.

Each year a different region of India is selected as part of the festival, which is now in its sixth year.

"Mughlai cuisine is extremely interesting," Udaygiri told guests at the launch of the menu yesterday.

"It has history right from Persia to India. Each dish that you are tasting has ingredients that have been picked up right through from Persia to Pakistan and Kashmir, before it settled in Delhi, from where it originates now," he said.

Udaygiri claimed that Mughlai cuisine was the most renowned Indian cuisine across the world, and various Indian dishes have become staples on many menus.

"There is a lot of emphasis on expensive ingredients on the insistence of the Emperors, most of whom were Muslim and meat eaters, but there were a few who became vegetarian, reflecting the culture and diversity that makes India so interesting," Udaygiri added, as he explained that most of the emperors hired Hindu cooks who were usually vegetarian.

"One of the Mughal emperors, Akbar, actually became a vegetarian as well," he claimed.

Sunil Menon, the owner of the Swad Restaurant, that is behind the initiative, said the event provided a unique opportunity for clients to get a taste of a specialist cuisine from India besides the normal menu that features both South and North Indian specialities.

"Don't worry about it being too rich and heavy - indulge tonight and a few hours in the gym after that will take care of it!" said the chef.