In the heart of Bengali culture, where food is further than food, pitha occupies a special place. These traditional rice-grounded delectables, frequently sweet, are deeply woven into the fabric of pastoral and civic life, likewise.
From generation to generation, Pitha making has become more than a tradition. It is familiar in almost every region of the country. The pitha-making process varies from region to region. There are huge number of methods, but most of the time, it follows the old system. The preparation method and serving method make it more attractive to its consumers.
A lot of names come to our minds when it is the topic of pitha is discussed, but patishapta, bhapa, puli pitha, to name a few. To be more exact, it is made with rice, flour, milk, and some seasonal ingredients. These Ingredients are mostly fresh as it is collected from nature.
The overall process of pitha making includes labour-intensive, specific designs for every individual type of pitha. It also requires precise timing. It’s not just a tradition, it brings families together. During the harvest festival times or any wedding occasion, it is mostly served.
It is not bound to the kitchen only, day by day, heading towards commerce. In recent times, the economic potential has advanced a lot for pitha. The pitha making is not limited to the village anymore, rather it started taking place in the city markets, food fairs and also in the online platforms.
Many rural women took it not only as a tradition but also as a profession. As they can start their journey of pitha making with minimal costs and available ingredients. Women in the past days were most of them had to work without pay, but days have changed, making sure that they are being paid for their efforts and contributing much to their households.
Many non-governmental organisations, as well as microfinance institutions, have taken significant steps to provide them with training and loans, empowering these women to take one step further to their business. With that many unemployed male workers also contributing and making sure that they can support their families with this work.
There is a large amount of demand for pitha in foreign countries also. By supplying this, the foreign money also helps our economy. In the cultural tourism, pitha also plays a huge role, on various occasions of every religion, stalls and booths are opened to sell pithas, which not only promote our cultural appreciation but also inject revenue into local economies.
Every startup has its challenges, too. Food safety is a big concern, with support for keeping it in cold storage or using packaging technologies.
Pitha is known for its special design making as for its delicacy. Every taste taker will acknowledge that it is a vessel of culture, and it has huge possibilities in the economic sector. We can recognize and invest in this humble tradition by preserving a rich culinary heritage. As the world is becoming more interconnected, perhaps the right time has come to step on the gears to reveal pitha not just as a sweet tradition but as a symbol of inclusive development.
In your locality, which items of pitha are popular, and what steps have been taken to make it more significant economically? let us know…
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Writer
Pritom Datta
Intern at Content Writing Department
YSSE