Bhubaneswar: The Odiani Samiti of Sambhavana Trust on Monday organised ‘Chitau Utsav’ at the conference hall of Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
The aim of organising the festival was to familiarise the younger generation with Odisha’s rich culinary traditions and creating awareness about its traditional food culture.
On the occasion of ‘Chitalagi Amabasya’, ‘Chitau Pitha’, a traditional soft and spongy rice pancake prepared from soaked rice and grated coconut, is offered to Lord Jagannath. The festival is also observed in Odia households, where women prepare the traditional delicacy and offer it to the Lord at their houses before the family members sit together to relish it.
The organsiers said they could not hold the event on the day of ‘Chitau Amavasya’ due to unavailability of a suitable venue.
The festival was inaugurated by eminent Odissi vocalist Dr Sangita Gosain. The Sambhabana’s president Sarat Chandra Bhadra, winner of 2026 Odiani Competition Smt Renubala Sahoo, winner of 2024 Odiani Competition Smt Jyotsnamayee Senapati, the Sambhabana’s managing trustee Deba Prasad Parija, trustee Smruti Mahanty and Odiani Samiti chairperson Smt Soudamini Samal and vice chairperson Rekha Sahoo and secretary Rashmita Rath were also present.
As part of the festival, an exhibition-cum-competition of ‘Chitau Pitha’ was organised in which round 50 Odia women participated. They displayed different varieties of the traditional pancake they brought from their houses.
Later, judges Dr Sushant Kumar Chaini and Kshitish Chandra Dash visited the stalls, tasted the preparations and selected the winners. While Padmalaya Satapathy stood first, Rachita Mohanty, Mamata Panda and Swetapadma Mishra secured second, third and fourth position respectively. Aparna Panda and Krushnapriya Nayak won consolation prize.
Managing trustee Deba Prasad Parija said the winners will be felicitated on August 29 when the Sambhabana’s foundation day issue will be unveiled.
The event drew a good number of visitors who got an opportunity not only to know about different varieties of ‘Chitau Pitha’ but also to relish them.
Later, the participants were felicitated with certificates and mementos.
