Bhubaneswar: Odisha Tourism Department in association with the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) launched its second edition of ‘Ama Ghara Ama Handisala’ competition on Wednesday.
Dedicating the second edition to Odia people, OTDC chairperson Srimayi Mishra said the government was encouraged by the overwhelming response to the first edition, and hoped the second would also be welcomed by connoisseurs of Odia food.
Ananda Bazar in Jagannath Temple of Puri is the largest kitchen in the world and this is the pride of Odisha, she said and added that Odias have more festivals than months in their calendar when the people prepare multiple cuisines to offer to their deities.
Amaghar, Ama Handishala food contest was inaugurated by Governor Ganeshi Lal and patronised by Chief Mininster Naveen Patnaik, ministers and several senior officials of the State. Chief Minister Patnaik underscored the need to popularise Odia food while he himself loves Odia Pakhala, she remarked.
When leaders of national repute visit the State, Patnaik takes care to entertain them with Odia recipes at his Naveen Niwas residence, she elaborated.
OTDC Managing Director and State Tourism Director Ramachandra Yadav said the competition was intended to encourage culionary talents of women amid Covid restrictions and the event turned out to be an astounding success. At least 40 participants would be chosen by a panel of judges and they would be toured round various tourist places where their cuisines would be videographed, he said.
Additional Tourism Secretary Durga Prasad Mohapatra, OTDC general manager Santanu Mohanty, divisional manager Pranab Kumar Chand and marketing managerRanjan Mishra were among those who were present at the event.
Winner of the first season Bijayini Debajani Das shared her experience.
