The Sisir Saras fair, jointly organised by ORMAS and Mission Shakti, is experiencing an impressive turnout at both the shopping zones and food stalls.
A beautifully decorated food court, adorned with lights and Pipili (woven) decor, has been set up for the convenience of visitors. As the sun sets, the crowd continues to grow, with people enjoying delicious food alongside vibrant cultural festivities.
Food stalls from various districts of Odisha as well as from outside the state have been established. Among Odisha’s specialties are Baripada Mudhi Mansa, Kendrapada Rasabali, Koraput Coffee, and Nabarangpur mushrooms. Additionally, stalls from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and other states have contributed to the fair’s culinary diversity.
One of the major attractions is the food stall of Sava Bharat from Nabarangpur, fondly known as “Mushroom Maa,” where people are lining up to enjoy her fresh mushroom pakoras. She personally prepares mushroom delicacies along with fresh chutneys at her stall. Through mushroom cultivation at the grassroots level, she has become self-reliant and has empowered many rural women with livelihood opportunities. She practices organic farming using vermicompost and encourages farmers to adopt natural farming methods over chemical-intensive approaches. So far, she has trained more than 5,000 women across districts like Koraput and Nabarangpur through various government and non-government initiatives, promoting mushroom farming and women’s self-reliance. Similarly, mushroom pakoras prepared by women from Self-Help Groups in Jajpur are also receiving much appreciation. Beyond fresh mushrooms, they produce value-added products such as dried mushroom powder, Badi, sauce, papad, and pickles, enabling year-round use of mushroom-based foods.
The popular Baripada Mudhi Mansa stall is attracting food lovers with traditional dishes like mutton mudhi, manda pitha, mansa poda pitha, mansa patua, and meat roasted in Sal leaves. Visitors can also enjoy desi chicken served with chuna roti, rice, or mudhi, according to their preference. A special highlight is the ‘Barehipani Drink,’ made from indigenous red rice, which has earned praise as the “Taste of Similipal.”
In addition to freshly prepared dishes, a wide range of processed food products is also available at Sisir Saras, with all items priced affordably to suit every budget. People of all age groups—from children to the elderly—are savouring the rich diversity of flavours brought from across the state.
The cultural evenings are equally captivating, featuring a live concert by popular Bollywood singer Divya Kumar, which has generated great excitement among the youth. Traditional dance performances, including ‘Ghumura’ from Kalahandi, ‘Santali’ dance from Keonjhar, ‘Karma dance’ from Koraput, ‘Dhemsa’ from Rayagada, and Rajasthani folk dance, have deeply touched and entertained the audience.
