Vanishing traditional foods of Odisha, this is something that every foodie in our state is bothered about. Odisha is a state where food has always been an integral part of it’s culture and tradition. In fact food and Odisha can be considered synonymous because of the variety, which you may not find anywhere else in India.
Odia food items have made their way not only to different parts of the country but also abroad. This is because Odia cuisine is rooted in simplicity, minimalism and has a deep connection with the temple culture, Odisha being a land of temples.
The Simplicity Of Odia Cuisine
The beauty of Odisha’s traditional food is its simplicity because of the minimal use of spices. That is actually what makes Odia cuisine so authentic. The state has an array of humble delights which is not only healthy but also does not fail to satisfy the taste buds. It appeals to all categories of people whether non vegetarian, vegetarian or vegan.
Vanishing traditional foods of Odisha are timeless treasures that get lost amidst the fast pace of life, fast food and instant food delivery system. These slowly but surely take us away from the earthly aromas of food cooked on fire wood choolas….recipes passed down to us through generations fondly prepared by our grandmothers and great grandmothers.
These dishes were symbolic of family get togethers, rituals and celebrations. The younger generation today do not fancy or rather have no idea about emotions attached with these food items. They find pizzas, pastas, noodles and other such types of food palatable and have never got the opportunity to get a taste of this kind of cuisine. But as they say’ old is gold’ and will always remain so just like old wine and old songs.
The Vanishing Traditional Foods Of Odisha
Let us take a walk down the memory lane and delve into some of those forgotten flavors of Odisha lost due to changing lifestyles, modern eating habits and straying away from our tradition. The names and recipes of some of these items are unknown to most of us…..
Mathapuli
A sweet dish made from urad dal and suji, fried and soaked in sugar syrup. This item is now unavailable in sweet shops.
Pakhala Pituli
Is a fried pancake made by mixing rice flour and vegetables along with drumstick leaves in fermented rice water. This was a dish prepared in many rural Odia homes but is now unheard of.
Chhunchipatra pitha
Is a sweet dish made by wrapping rice batter with coconut jaggery stuffing and steaming it. This item got its flavor from a particular forest leaf with a lemony aroma. This item, though still prepared in some Odia homes, has undergone a change as this leaf is now rarely available.
Khatta Chakata
This is a preparation rarely heard of today. It is a paste like dish made from a mixture of ripe mashed bananas, tamarind paste, jaggery, black salt and roasted cumin.
This dish was served in village temples during religious festivals and feasts but has disappeared as it was a local tradition of some village and failed to be passed on to the next generation.
Thus many such culinary treasures vanished due to urbanization, nuclear family setup, preference for western food items, busy lifestyle and many such reasons.
An Attempt At Revival
However, many food preservers living inside and outside the state are making sincere efforts to save some of these recipes by preparing and sharing them on social platforms in order to create awareness about the rich tradition of our state Odisha.
Food festivals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack also showcase these rare dishes in order to reconnect the younger generation with their culinary heritage. Let us then all try and keep the flavors of our beautiful state alive.
