Millet Shakti stalls spread the goodness of Shree Anna during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention- 2025

Bhubaneswar:13/01/ 2025:Millet Shakti stalls, set up under the Shree Anna Abhiyan (SAA) initiative, delighted visitors with a range of millet-based dishes during the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention held at the iconic locations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Jajpur from January 8-10, 2025.
The Shree Anna Abhiyan, a flagship program of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, collaborated with the Department of Tourism to highlight the nutritional and culinary value of millets to the global Indian diaspora. As part of this initiative, 15 Millet Shakti stalls were set up across popular tourist locations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Jajpur.

Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida visited the millet stall at Konark, reaffirming the government’s commitment to promoting millets. International delegates, including visitors from Italy and Belgium, also visited the stalls and expressed their appreciation for the initiative, commending the taste and nutritional value of the millet dishes.

In Bhubaneswar, the stalls were placed at Kalabhoomi, Khandagiri, and Udayagiri Caves, Lingaraj Temple, Odisha State Museum, Dhauli, Nandankanan Zoo, and Mukteswar Temple. In Cuttack, they were set up at the Silver City Boat Club and Maritime Museum. In Puri, stalls were located at the Konark Sun Temple, Blue Flag Beach, Raghurajpur village, Jagannath Ballav Math, and Satpada Lake. The Jajpur stall was established at Ratnagiri.
These stalls, managed by Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs), offered a good selection of millet-based delicacies.

Traditional items like millet poda pitha, kakera pitha, manda pitha, and millet dry fruit cakes were prepared alongside innovative dishes such as ragi chowmein. A variety of snacks, including ragi murukku, ragi nimki, jowar sev, ragi mixture, ragi almond cookies, ragi hazelnut cookies, jeera cookies, and cashew cookies, were also available, highlighting the culinary versatility of millets.
The stalls drew significant interest, with an estimated 150-200 visitors at each location. Guests showed a growing curiosity about millets and their preparation, while the WSHG members warmly served the delicacies and received positive feedback. The initiative successfully raised awareness about millets among both domestic and international visitors.

The success of the millet promotion initiative during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention marks a significant step in popularising millets. The Government of Odisha remains committed to its efforts to support the cultivation and consumption of millets, acknowledging their vital role in enhancing food security, nutrition, and sustainable agricultural practices.