Odisha is a land of numerous traditions and festivals. Most of the festivals celebrated here are of religious significance and have their own set of rituals unlike other regions in India. One such festival is ‘Raja Parba’. It consists of 3 days of celebrating fertility and womanhood across Odisha. While menstruation remains a taboo topic, people here in Odisha proudly celebrate it with full glory. One major ritual or tradition of this festival is to make delicious Odia dishes to please every woman’s food cravings.
Podo Pitha: This sweet can be rightly called the Godfather of all Odia pithas. Podo pitha is traditionally prepared in a clay oven overnight, by slowly baking fermented rice, black gram, grated coconut and jaggery by burning it’s crust slightly to get a smoky flavour while the inner portion is soft and white. It’s said to be the favourite pancake of Lord Jagannath of Puri. A little spice of cardamom at each bite and that crunch of coconut and nuts along with a caramelized jaggery is surely gonna make you drool.
Raja Paan: In Odisha, such celebrations are never complete without a cherry on the top i.e. ‘Raja Paan’. Eating paan marks the completion of meals and this festival has a special place for paan. The betel shops especially come up with a variety of innovative paan flavours throughout the week. It’s even a tradition to not miss out on including a paan in each gift packet given to ladies.
Arisa Pitha : As we all must have noticed by now that pitha’s are a must in Odisha, whatever be the occasion one is certainly sure to have a pitha in every household. Arisa (sesame seeds) or Ghee pitha with jaggery and other condiments are deeply fried to be ready for a perfect snack. Best part is that one can store them for a few days and enjoy till it lasts. Ah, how crunchy and juicy it happens to be every time.
Manda Pitha: Manda or Enduri Pitha is a steamed preparation. With its ease of preparation, it’s mostly served on important Odia occasions and events. It’s made up of semolina stuffed with sweet coconut with nuts fillings. Enduri is made up of rice flour filled with the same sweet ingredients but steamed with turmeric leaves. It’s a must-have for health-conscious people if they want to celebrate without oily food items.
Chenna Poda: Oh, how could we forget this ultimate dessert which is everyone’s favourite. If you’ve got love for baked delicacies, Chenna Poda will turn your heart for sure. Being one of the most iconic sweets from Odisha, tourists specially travel here to relish this sweet dish. Infused with semolina, ghee, raisins and other dry fruits, it’s baked until brown which is then cut into slices and served hot.
Raja Special Thali : In the 3 days of celebrating womanhood, restaurants and hotels introduce special thali for ladies who go out to celebrate with their loved ones. The special menu consists of the authentic Chakuli Pitha, Chana Matar Tarkari, Maunso Jholo, Mitha, Moonga Ghanta, Suji Kakhara, Manda pitha, Poda pitha, Enduro pitha & the famous Odia Dalma.
This year make sure you celebrate this auspicious festival with all the rituals involved, try out these delicious delicacies and let us know on our social handles how well you spent the 3-day long festival. Happy Raja Parba to all !
