Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Shree Chakradhara Mallik Foundation for Odia Culture, through its flagship initiative Odia Roots, sponsored the Pitha Competition at the 57th Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) Convention.
The initiative brought together Odia families from across North America to celebrate one of Odisha’s most treasured culinary traditions.
A major highlight of the event was the iconic Raghu Dahibara of Cuttack city as the organisers offered rich tributes to the creator of the famous and mouth-watering delicacy.
For every Odia, Pitha is far more than food—it is emotion, memory, and identity. The aroma of freshly prepared Pitha takes every Odia back to their childhood, grandparents’ kitchens, village festivals, Raja Parba, Manabasa Gurubar, and countless family celebrations. Even thousands of miles away, every bite reconnects people with their roots in Odisha.
The competition featured 22 talented participants, each presenting a unique traditional Pitha that showcased the diversity and richness of Odisha’s culinary heritage. From Chitau, Enduri, Arisa, Kakara, Manda, Podapitha, Raja Ambapitha, Saptapuri and many more, every participant demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity, and dedication to preserving this priceless tradition.
The competition was evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges led by Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty. She was joined by two other respected judges, whose expertise and thoughtful evaluation ensured a fair and inspiring competition.
Winners
First Place
Bijayalaxmi Senapati (Enduri Pitha)
Second Place
Gopa Guru (Podapitha)
Third Place
Sunita Rout (Kakara Pitha)
The Shree Chakradhara Mallik Foundation for Odia Culture congratulated all the winners and extended heartfelt appreciation to every participant, volunteer, judge, sponsor, and supporter who made the event a grand success.
“When we preserve our Pitha, we preserve our stories, festivals, family traditions, and identity. Every Pitha carries the taste of Odisha, and every generation deserves to inherit that legacy,” the foundation said in a statement.
The Foundation remains committed to its mission of preserving, promoting, and passing Odia heritage to future generations through initiatives focused on culture, language, traditional cuisine, youth engagement, storytelling, and community service.
