The semi-final round of the Subhadra Shakti Traditional Food Competition unfolded at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bhubaneswar, bringing together 30 spirited teams from across Odisha to celebrate regional cuisine and the entrepreneurial spirit of SHG women.
Hosted by the Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, this culinary initiative champions traditional food revival and structured enterprise development for women. Each district-level winning team—comprising a Head Chef, Assistant Chef, and Kitchen Assistant—underwent rigorous residential training from 14th to 19th July under the mentorship of acclaimed culinary experts such as Chef Suraj Kumar Sahoo (Hotel Mayfair), Chef Sambit Suman (HoD, IHM), Chef Sailesh Sekhar (Lyfe Hotel), and MasterChef India Season 6 winner Shri Abinas Nayak.
After showcasing unique dishes rooted in Odisha’s cultural legacy, 10 teams were shortlisted for the Grand Finale, to be held on 22nd July at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon. The finalists represent Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Nuapada, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Boudh, Nabarangpur, and Jagatsinghpur.
Certificates and mementoes were presented to all participants, honouring their journey from district selections to the state-level showcase.
Beyond the competition, Subhadra Shakti is part of a larger framework under Mission Shakti and Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), featuring initiatives like Subhadra Shakti Cafés, Food Melas, and ODOP clusters—creating income, identity, and opportunity for SHG women while restoring Odisha’s food heritage.
As Odisha strides toward Viksit Odisha, the stories of these SHG chefs affirm that change can be stirred from the very heart of the home, one dish at a time.
