Wazwan banquet · Srinagar
The 36-trami feast
Kashmir built its name on.
Wanwun Banquets serves the full traditional Wazwan — 36 dishes, plated correctly on the trami, paced by master Wazas, closed with kahwa from the samovar. For weddings, corporate dinners and family celebrations in Srinagar.
Photo coming soon
A trami at Wanwun, set for the family
What is the Wazwan?
A meal Kashmir has been perfecting for centuries.
The Wazwan is the multi-course feast Kashmir is famous for — up to 36 dishes, most of them meat-led, plated on a copper trami shared between four guests who eat together with their hands. The cooks are called Wazas; the head Waza is treated with the respect a master chef commands anywhere in the world. Recipes pass from father to son, technique by technique, over generations.
At a Kashmiri wedding, the Wazwan is the ceremonial centrepiece of the Yini Wol and the Walima. The trami appears, the tash-t-naer rinse is done, the dishes arrive in a precise order — kebabs and Tabak Maaz first, then Rista in its mawal red, then the slow-braised mutton dishes, then the lighter ones, then the Goshtaba placed by the head Waza himself. The samovar kahwa closes the meal.
At Wanwun, we host the Wazwan the way it should be hosted — with the trami, the seating-of-four, the ritual hand-rinse, the proper sequencing. Our in-house Wazas are trained to the lineage. If your family has worked with a particular Waza for generations, we hand him the pantry and let him do his work.
The trami, dish by dish
Ten of the thirty-six, in order.
Tabak Maaz
01
Mutton ribs simmered in milk-and-spice, then deep-fried in ghee until golden and crisp. The trami opens with these.
Rista
02
Hand-pounded mutton meatballs in a fiery red gravy of Kashmiri chilies and mawal — the cockscomb flower.
Rogan Josh
03
The dish Kashmir gave the world — slow-cooked mutton in a yoghurt-and-spice gravy, deep red from Kashmiri chilies.
Aab Gosh
04
Mutton braised in milk with green cardamom and fennel — gentler than its siblings, a quiet showstopper.
Methi Maaz
05
Tripe and fenugreek leaves cooked together — pungent, deeply herbal, an acquired and beloved taste.
Yakhni
06
Mutton in a yoghurt-based broth flavoured with fennel and dry ginger — the Wazwan's soothing centrepiece.
Daniwal Korma
07
Mutton in a coriander-leaf masala, lighter and fresher than the heavier dishes preceding it.
Goshtaba
08
Hand-pounded mutton balls in a creamy yoghurt gravy — the grand finale. The head Waza places it on each trami himself.
Modur Pulao
09
Sweet saffron rice with milk and dry fruits — the Wazwan's gentle, fragrant counterpoint.
Kahwa
10
Saffron-and-almond green tea poured from the samovar to close the meal. Warming, aromatic, ceremonial.
The Wazwan service ritual
Four traditions that make it a Wazwan, not just a meal.
The trami — seating of four
Guests sit in groups of four around a large copper plate. The intimacy of the trami is a feature, not a bug — it makes the meal personal.
The tash-t-naer
A portable basin is carried around for hand-washing before the meal — a ritual that anchors the service. Our service team handles it with quiet dignity.
The head Waza's Goshtaba
The senior Waza personally walks the room to place the Goshtaba — the grand finale — on each trami. A signature moment Kashmiris recognise instantly.
The samovar kahwa close
Kahwa is poured from a brass samovar at every table to finish — saffron, cinnamon, cardamom and almond slivers. Warming, ceremonial.
Questions, answered
About the Wazwan at Wanwun.
Is the full 36-dish Wazwan available?+
Yes — we serve the complete traditional Wazwan, all 36 dishes plated correctly on the trami. The dishes appear in the right order, paced by the head Waza's timing.
Can we bring our own Waza?+
Absolutely. If your family has worked with a Waza for generations, we provide the pantry, prep area and service team. The trami, the tash-t-naer rinse and the seating-of-four are still handled by our staff.
Do you offer vegetarian Wazwan options?+
Kashmiri Pandit cuisine has a rich vegetarian tradition — Nadru Yakhni, Dum Aloo, Chaman, Haak, Nadru Monji. We plate a full vegetarian sit-down alongside the meat Wazwan when needed.
Is the Wazwan halal?+
Yes — our meat is sourced from halal suppliers as a default, and the kitchen flow observes halal standards. Most Kashmiri Muslim weddings have this expectation built-in.
How many people can be served at once?+
Each hall seats 250+ on the trami arrangement comfortably. Both halls together scale to 500+. The service flow is choreographed by the head Waza to keep the rhythm — no waiting between dishes.
Can we have a Wazwan without a wedding — for a corporate dinner?+
Yes — many corporate clients book a Wazwan dinner specifically as the highlight of an offsite. We design it to feel ceremonial without the wedding context.