Odisha’s beloved ‘Haladi Patra Pitha’ and Its significance
.Haldi patra pitha also called Enduri Pitha, mostly loved in eastern, central and northern parts of Odisha.
Haladi Patra Pitha is traditionally prepared during Prathamastami or Padhuanstami, a festival during which mothers offer prayers for their firstborn. Haldi patra pitha also called Enduri Pitha, mostly loved in eastern, central and northern parts of Odisha.
Prathamastami also marks the day when people first start making ‘Badis’. The first batch of ‘Badi’ is worshipped with ‘Doob’ grass and vermilion (sindoor). Usually, people lay badi in these winter months (November-January) and store it for usage during the entire year. This is because the low temperature and mild sun ensure that the badi dries up evenly without cracking up at places.
In some parts of Odisha, like Cuttack or the nearby areas, seven pieces of Haladi Patra pitha are offered to the God while other areas offer seven pieces of Chakuli as the prasad. The firstborn child is decked up in new clothes, Chandan/sindoor is applied on his/her forehead and ‘Aarti’ is done with raw rice, doob grass, flowers and a Deepam (lamp) in our place. However other parts of the state use about five to seven leafy greens to complete this ritual.
How to prepare Haladi Patra Pitha?
Soak rice and blackgram for about 4 hours. Use only the skinless blackgram for the purpose. Wash the same thoroughly and then grind into thick batter. It need not be a very fine paste. Grind leaving a little coarseness in the rice. Whip well. Leave the batter for fermenting for about 8 hours. Add salt and mix well.
Now to prepare the stuffing, place a frying pan on medium flame. Put the scrubbed coconut, cottage cheese and jaggery. Stir and fry till it becomes a little dry. Add powdered cardamom and black pepper. Mix well and keep aside.
Now to prepare pitha take one whole green turmeric leaf. Put a little batter on the leaf and flatten the same. Then put the required quantity of stuffing on the batter and fold the turmeric leaf length-wise in such a way that the stuffing gets sandwiched in between two layers of batter. Tie a thread around the folded leaf to keep it secured. Now steam it in the traditional way. It is similar to the way we steam idli. Steam it till done and fork comes out clean. Serve the pitha with any curry of your preference.