An Ode to Pithas

Pithas have never been unknown to me. My home state Bihar and the state I call my home - Odisha - have their own designated pithas, a compulsory item for special festivals, particularly in the Mithila region where I belong to (Yes, not all of Bihar is Bhojpuri). Even the ingredients used are almost the same - rice, jaggery, coconut, mixed with dry fruits. And, of course, ghee, which no matter how much we protest, still finds its way into those pithas. I have not seen my mother prepare pithas much since it was always considered a resort of grandmothers. But, moving to Odisha from Delhi did not change that taste or led me to make adjustments in food style, in any way. Bihar and Odisha share a lot of food traditions and pitha is one of them.

But, the one thing which is not common in these two states is - a special festival dedicated to pubescent girls or to the eldest child in the family. Every Prathamashtami and Rajo, I lament this absence of these traditions in Mithila households which celebrate the girl child or the eldest child, regardless of gender. Having said that, I haven't been bereft of the taste of Pithas of Odisha, at least during Prathamashtami. When my friends got to know that I am the eldest child in my family, they'd bring those Enduri Pithas with them, for me. It continued at my student's place too. His mother would keep a pitha exclusively for me. For the last two years, I was treated to pithas by my colleagues on Prathamashtami - sometimes two or three of them would bring me pithas and make up for the dry lunch I brought.

I have never been religious. And pithas are always known for their association with a religion or a particular tradition. East Indian traditions have always been firm to its roots. Just look at the ingredients - the haldi leaves used to wrap Emduri Pitha, rice flour, black gram - these are all naturally-grown and produced and have been used since time immemorial.

In our fast-paced world, these occasions provide us with an excuse to come back to our original roots, even for a day. And, it also allows us to consume the kind of food diet conscious people usually avoid - something made of rice and ghee. No matter how westernized we become or how much we loathe religious dogmas, you do yearn for these special food items made exclusively for these annual festivals. A break from the "2 minutes" food is essential, no?