Mango Idli (Odia: ଆମ୍ବ ଇଟିଲି) is one delicious Indian style Idli specially prepared on the occasion of Raja Parba in Odisha. Here is a blog on Raja Parba and Mango Idli by Divya Kar, a food blogger from Balasore.

Thought Poda Pitha is mainly famous on Raja Utsav, but we Odias use to Prepare different types of items like Chakuli Pitha, Manda Pitha, Tawa Pitha (Pan Cake), and some other pitha.

Aamba idli or Mango idili:

This is one of the yummiest versions of idli which will make kids go gaga over it. You can add mango purée, little jaggery, and a pin of cardamom powder to the normal idli batter.

The first day of this festival is called Pahili Raja (prior Raja). The second day is Raja Sankranti (proper Raja) or Mithuna Sankranti and the third day is Basi Raja (past Raja). In some regions, the fourth day of Raja, known as the Basumati Snana is also celebrated.

During the three days, women are given a break from household work and time to play indoor games. No farming takes place and everyone abstains from walking barefoot on the earth. This is to prepare the earth for the coming rain.

Unmarried girls will dress in new clothes or wear traditional Sarees and Alata (red dye) on their feet. During these three days, most of the people of Odisha use to eat PanPan. Still, there is a huge demand for different types of Pan (betel) on Raja Parba.

Indoor and outdoor games are a popular pursuit during Raja. Girls will play on swings tied on tree branches while singing folk songs. There are various types of swings, each with a name such as The swings is of different varieties, such as 'Ram Doli', 'Charki Doli', 'Pata Doli' and 'Dandi Doli'.

Older women don't miss out on the games, but they tend to be of the more sedate variety, such as cards or board games like ludo.

Dibya Kar, an Odia food blogger born and brought up in Odisha and a software engineer based in Bangalore but love exploring and experiencing new places, their culture, and food. She lives in a motto “food can make you happy from heart and heart can make you live long by counting your every day as a blessing.” Follow her on Instagram @dibyascookbook

More Blogs on Raja Parba:

• Raja Pitha
• Raja Pana
• Raja Sankranti
• Raja Hata
• Poda Pitha
• Raja Doli
• Raja Poda Pitha
• Basumati Snana

NB: Some photos are taken from Lipika Mohapatra and Saumya Parida.

This Odia "Nali cha" (Odia: ନାଲି ଚାହା) is actually black tea but infused with few spices to be used as a healthy concoction. This tea is a regular thing at my place when we run out of milk or when someone is down with flu or cold.

I even make this for myself during winter as it uses much lesser caffeine. And during this time I am also adding Tulsi leaves to make it even healthier.

Making Process:

1. For this tea just boil 2 cups of water with half-inch of ginger, 1 bay leaf, and 5-6 black peppers for around 4-5 minutes in medium-low flame.
2. Then add a pinch or two of tea powder (depends upon how strong your tea powder is).
3. Add a pinch of salt to it and boil for another 1-2 minutes.
4. You can have it just like that or you can also add sugar or honey according to your taste. Healthy with much lesser caffeine and no milk. Such an amazing and easy immune booster. 😊

Lucy Parija was a lecture in Pharmaceutical Science at PG Department, Berhampur, but she quit her job for her higher studies. As the youngest daughter of the family, she started cooking after leaving her job and started experimenting with Odia food dishes. As per her, "Food is the mirror through which one can peek into their own region. It gives you a sense of adherence to the soil you were born in. Food represents one's culture, reflects one's customs, and regenerates compassion for own motherland." Follow her on Instagram @foodofthenation

More Blogs from Lucy:

• Khudurukuni Osha
• Basumati Snana
• Raja Poda Pitha
• Raja Sankranti Lunch

Ivy gourd (Odia: କୁନ୍ଦୁରି), scientifically known as Coccinia grandis is a tropical perennial climber. It's a smooth, ovoid to ellipsoid berry and a relative of Cucumber.

OTHER NAMES:

Gentleman's toes, gherkin, baby watermelon, Calabacita, Calabaza Hiedra, Coccinia cordifolia, Coccinia Indica, Little Gourd, Ivy Gord, Kundru in Hindi, Tendli in Marathi, Kovai in Tamil, Kova in Malayalam, Tondikey in Kannada, Tela Kucha in Bengali, In Oriya, Ban-Kundari, Gourde Écarlate De L´Inde Tindola in French and Gol Kankri in Nepali.

Green points of Ivy gourd:

1. Keeps the blood sugar level under check ☑
2. Promotes skin health
3. Prevents obesity
4. Good for digestion
5. Rich in dietary fibers
6. Rich in iron and minerals
7. Rich in Vitamins like B1 and B2
8. Has plenty of Calcium as well

About the Author:

Namrata Singh, an Odia food blogger born and brought up in Balasore, Odisha. She loves food photography, food styling, and a digital creator.  Follow her on Instagram @the_butter_cubes

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Chunchi Patra Pitha (Odia: ଛୁଞ୍ଚିପତ୍ର ପିଠା) is a thin paper crust Stuffed Pancake which is mostly famous in Odisha, the eastern part of India.

The making process of Chhunchipatra Pitha is not so hard, but you have to make it thin for better taste. But, it might need a little experience.

Ingredients for Chhunchi Patra Pitha:

1. Arua Chaula (ଅରୁଆ ଚାଉଳ)
2. Some Jaggery (ଗୁଡ଼)
3. Grated Coconut (ନଡ଼ିଆ କୋରା)
4. Salt (ସ୍ୱାଦାନୁସାରେ ଲୁଣ)
5. Ghee or Oil (ଘିଅ କିମ୍ବା ତେଲ)

Making Process:

Make the batter from Arua Chaula by grinding. Add salt as per requirement and some more water to it. And keep it for some time maybe hours for better taste.

After this, prepare the masala by adding grated coconut and jaggery together to a pan with low flame. The color would turn brown.

Now, take a pan and make a thin very thin dosa as shown in the photo and add the masala at the center and fold all four parts to the center. Now, it's ready to serve.

* All these photos are taken by Dr. Manas Ranjan Swain (@DrManasswain1)

Potol and Macha Jhola (Odia: ପୋଟଳ ରୋହି ମାଛ ତରକାରୀ) is an authentic Indian food item especially famous in Odisha prepared from Rohu fish and Pointed Gourd or Potala. It's a mix of vegetable and fish curry.

Masaledaar Rohu fish curry with chunks of fried golden potatoes when served on a bed of white rice is what a true fish lover will always crave on any day.

A very easy fish curry, where first fish is marinated with salt and turmeric then fried on hot oil over high to medium flame. In the leftover oil, add raw pointed guard pieces and stir fry it until it turns golden brown on each side of the pointed guard (potola).

Once it is cooked remove and keep aside. In that same pan add oil 2 tsp then add Chopped onion saute until it becomes brown, then add ginger garlic paste saute once the oil started separating (raw smell goes off well) then fish masala powder, salt (as per taste) with turmeric powder, red chilly powder (optional) add giving it a nice mix.

Allow this to get cooked for 4 to 6 minutes more. Then add stir-fried potola into it and then add some hot water moderately as per the gravy quantity simmer for 8 to 10 minutes on low flame.

Then add fried fish into it and cook for 5 more minutes. Add slit green chilies, lastly garam masala powder. Give it a nice stir and turn off the gas. Serve hot with rice. Enjoy...

Do you love fish curry or fish fry?? Let me know in the comment below.💞

Stay safe and stay well...

About the Author:

Julie Samantaray, an Odia food blogger from Odisha, staying in Cochin, Kerala. She loves to cook and share with everyone. As a foodie, she not only shares her food with family and friends, also shares lots of recipes on her Instagram feed. Follow her on Instagram @savory__delights

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Sri Sri Sankat Mochan Mahavir Temple is an Hanuman temple in Tantamundia, Jariput in Khordha district of Odisha. This place is situated around 5 kilometers away from Khordha district Headquater.

Location of Sri Sri Sankat Mochan Mahavir Temple:

This temple is situated just 3 kilometers from NH16 on the hilltop of Tantamundia Hills. To reach here you have to go through a small jungle. Now new roads and stairs are made to reach easily.

As per legends, the soldiers of Khoardha Kindom used to worship Mahaveer Hanuman here and they were practicing muscle arts there. As per our history, that period is around 1572.

After the rule of the Mughals and Britishers, the place was lost with the jungle. But in 1991, the local youth members discovered this place and started worshiping Maveer there.

On 13th April 1991, on the occasion of Mahavir Janma (Birth anniversary of Mahaveer Hanuman), a three days yajna organized there. Saints like Mahanta Biswambar Das Maharaj, Madhusudan Ji Maharaj joined this worship and from that day, every year the yajna is organizing there.

Later the Temple, Yajna Manda, Panthanivas arere made at this place. Now people from different places use to visit this temple. Odisha Tourism Department has approved this place as a tourist place of Odisha.

If you are planning to visit this place, then have Anna-Prasad there at the temple. As per some friends, the Prasad at Sri Sri Sankat Mochan Mahavir Temple is really good.

More Blogs:

1. Lakshmi Baraha Temple, Ali
2. Khirachora Gopinath Temple
3. Kalijai Temple
4. Biraja Temple
5. Taratarini Temple
6. Kantilo Nilamadhaba
7. Sikharchandi Temple, Bhubaneswar

Sources:

• Information source: K-News
• Photo Source: K-News & one Twitter friend with username _ChronicCruiser.

Maa Taratarini Temple (Odia: ତାରାତାରିଣୀ ମନ୍ଦିର) is a shakti peetha in Odisha situated on the Kumari hills at the bank of the Rushikulya River near Brahmapur city in Ganjam District, Odisha, India.

Two goddesses named Tara and Tarini are worshiping at this place. This place is worshiped as the Breast Shrine (Sthana Peetha) and manifestations of Adi Shakti.

The Tara Tarini Shakti Peetha is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of the Mother Goddess and is one of four major ancient Tantra Peetha and Shakti Peethas in India.

The mythological texts recognize four major Shakti Peethas:

1. Tara Tarini (Stana Khanda), near Brahmapur.
2. Bimala (Pada Khanda) inside the Jagannath Temple, Puri.
3. Kamakhya (Yoni Khanda), near Guwahati.
4. Dakshina Kalika (Mukha Khanda) in Kolkata.

There are 52 other sacred Shakti Peethas, which originated from the limbs of Mata Sati's corpse in the Satya Yuga.

Location: 

The temple is situated at the bunk of river Rushikulya (also called the Rushikalyani Saraswati and known as the elder sister of the Ganges in the Vedas) enhanced its religious and cultural significance.

The nearest airports are Bhubaneswar (174 km) and Vishakhapatnam (240 km) from the temple. The nearest railway station is Brahmapur railway station, 32 kilometers from the temple.

Taxi services are available from Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Puri to Tara Tarini, and regular bus service is available from Brahmapur to the Tara Tarini Junction.

Deities of Taratarini Temple:

The goddesses Tara and Tarini are represented by two ancient stone statues with gold and silver ornaments. Two brass heads, known as their Chalanti Pratima, or Living Image, are placed between them.

Adi Shakti goddesses Tara Tarini have been regarded as the presiding deity (Ista-Devi) in many parts of India and in most of the households in Odisha. This holy shrine is on the eastern coast, about 30 km from the commercial nerve center of Odisha, Brahmapur.

The historically famous Jaugada rock edict of Emperor Ashoka and the pious river Rushikulya, which has been described in Rig Veda as ‘Gangayah Jyestha Bhagini’ (the elder sister of the Ganga), are also present near this shrine.

Since time immemorial, Adyashakti is being worshiped here as Devi Tara Tarini on the blue-capped holy mountain of Tarini Parvat/Kumari hills/Ratnagiri/Purnagiri. At the hilltop, a beautiful stone temple is the abode of Maa.

Two stones anthropomorphized by the addition of gold and silver ornaments and shaped to be seen as human faces are the main shrine of this temple which represents the goddesses Tara and Tarini. In between them, are two fully celebrated and beautiful brass heads as their Chalanti Pratima or their Living Image.

Festivals:

Chaitra Parba/Chaitra Mela/Chaitra Yatra is the most important among the festivals, celebrated at the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine.

It takes place on each Tuesday of the month of Chaitra, i.e., during mid-March to mid-April (according to the English calendar).

Lakhs of devotees come from every corner of the world to have darshan of the Tara Tarini and perform their Manasika after fulfillment of their desires.

Grand congregations take place on the first, second, third, and fourth Tuesdays. On Tuesday, the shrine remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 1.00 AM (mid-night on Monday) till 11 PM (of Tuesday).

During that period, Pahada (daytime rest) of the deities is confined to night-time only. Devotees come to offer the first bunch of hair of the newborn babies with the belief that goddesses Tara Tarini will protect the newborns from all evils and ensure their well-being.

Also in each Sankranti (1st day of solar Hindu month), special pujas are done in the temple.

More Articles:

Some photos of Danda Jatra:

Danda Nata or Danda Jatra (Odia: ଦଣ୍ଡ ନାଟ, ଦଣ୍ଡ ଯାତ୍ରା) is one of the oldest traditional dance festivals of the world, still alive in Ganjam District (The ancient Kalinga Empire) in Odisha. 

The Danda Nata festival is being held in the month of Chaitra every year. It is an ancient festival of the Kalinga kingdom and still alive in & around the ancient Kalinga capital Sampa/Samapa i.e modern-day Ganjam District.

The Participants are called Danduas(also known as Bhaktas). They pray to the Goddesses Kali & Shiva during this 13 or 21 day Danda period.

Danda Nacha Photo & Content Source: Tara Tarini Temple Twitter Handle.

The Lakshmi Varaha Temple is located in the Indian state of Odisha, in the Kendrapada District. Brahmani River is the nearest river to this temple.

The temple is about one kilometer away from the center of tehsil Ali or Aul, which is situated about 146 kilometers from the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is 17 km from Pattamundai and 38 km from Kendrapara.

Regular bus services are available from Kendrapara, Cuttack, Bhadrak, and Bhubaneswar. The nearest railway station is Bhadrak, on the Chennai–Howrah railway route.

History of Lakshmi Varaha Temple:

Previously, the Lord was situated in the Maa Biraja Pitha in the Jajpur district, along with Yajna Baraha Temple. The King of Ali was a devotee of Sri Lakshmi and Varaha and often went there to offer Puja, which is a Hindu act of worship.

One day during the month of Srabana (ଶ୍ରାବଣ), the Baitarani River flooded, so the darshan was canceled. Believing that the Lord couldn't tolerate that, the king dreamed that the Lord came with him to his place to Aul (locally called Alli).

One day the Lord came, following the king's path of return, after puja. As the king was returning by horseback, he listened to the sound of the Lord following him. At Aul, the sound of the Lord's walking stopped.

In this place, the devoted king built the Lord's holy temple. The Yajna Baraha Temple remains there in Jajpur. The present temple was renovated by the late king of Aul, Sri Brajasundar Dev during the 20th century after the temple had been in a ruined state for the previous 500 years.

Festivals:

• Baraha Dwadashi, Avatara divas of Varaha on Maagha Shukla Dwadashi gathers a lakh of devotees from around the area.
• Baraha Dola Yatra, the swing festival during Phalguna or Holi.
• Raja Parba
• Vijaya Dashami
• Kumar Purnima
• Kartik Purnima
• Ratha Jatra
• Bakula Amavasya
• Samba Dasami
• Makara Sankranti
• Pana Sankranti
• Subha Sunia

Related Blogs:

• Chhatiabata, Jajpur
• Khirachora Gopinath Temple
• Dhamarai Temple, Bhadrrak
• Kalijai Temple, Chilika
• Shikharachandi Temple, Bhubaneswar

Content Source: Wikipedia