Pitha story: the traditional food that is savoured during Raja festival

Bhubaneswar, June 15 (LocalWire): Odisha celebrates the onset of monsoon with Raja festival and no celebration is complete without food.

Following the age-old custom, traditional delicacies like Pithas or rice cakes are prepared during Raja festival.

Here is a list of pithas that have been compiled for the foodies to sample.

1. Poda Pitha

Poda (burnt) pitha is the state’s most popular sweet made of rice, jaggery, coconut and lentils.

Lord Jagannath stops at the Mausi Maa temple during bahuda yatra and enjoys a bite of poda pitha before returning to his abode. Poda pitha is generally made during raja parba.

 

2. Gaintha Pitha

One of the most preferred pithas for all fond of sweets, is made from rice flour balls seasoned in sweetened cream milk. This is mostly eaten after fasting.

3. Taala Pitha

An unique form of pitha made from the fruit of the palm (taala) tree. Ripe palm pulp is one of the most important ingredients of this cake.

The combination of palm-flavoured semolina with coconut and jaggery, makes it one delectable dish.

4. Chaitau Pitha

This pitha is made up of rice flour and coconut slices. It is primarily made during Chitou Amavasya , a festival related to Lord Jagannath. This delicacy can be enjoyed with mutton curry and vegetarians have this rice cake with buta dali aloo curry.

5. Chandrakanta Pitha

This is a juicy deep-fried dessert cake made from green gram and rice flour along with coconut.

It is a sweet dish originally from coastal Odisha. It is made specially during Diwali.

6. Kakara Pitha

Kakara pitha is deep-fried sweet cake which is mostly prepared as an offering to deities and served hot or cold on most traditional festivals.

This is prepared in two varieties – either by using semolina or wheat flour.

7. Arisa Pitha

Prepared from rice flour, this pitha is one of the most popular delicacies of Odisha and can be preserved for 2-3 weeks.

8. Manda Pitha

Manda Pitha is a traditional delicacy prepared in Odia homes especially during festivals.

The traditional variety uses steamed rice flour for the outer covering and coconut and jaggery for the stuffing.

9.Chakuli Pitha
This is a flat rice-based fried cake. It is prepared with rice flour, black gram, ghee or mustard oil and salt. It is very good for health as it is rich in calcium.

10. Enduri Pitha

On Prathamastami, this delicacy is prepared. It is the star of the day.

What makes it so special is the steaming technique.

These are steamed in fresh turmeric leaves.

The rice and black gram batter is layered on the leaf, folded in and then steaming it in a athara handi (Steamer) .

This pitha has sweetened coconut stuffing. The unique aroma of turmeric leaves in this pitha adds to its taste.

LocalWire