The Grand Finale of the Subhadra Shakti Traditional Food Competition took place today, July 22, 2025, at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon in Bhubaneswar, graced by the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida.
This event marked the conclusion of a journey spanning over two months, during which women participated in a culinary competition at the block, district, and state levels. The district winners were awarded a seven-day residential professional training program at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bhubaneswar.
In the semi-final held at IHM Bhubaneswar, 10 out of 30 district teams advanced to the final round, performing in front of an audience today at Hotel Mayfair in a calm and serene atmosphere. Each team was provided with a workstation equipped with cooking gas, induction cooktops, utensils, cutlery, and basic ingredients from a pantry available on-site. The decorations at the workstations, presentation hall, and green pathways added a festive touch to the event.
Organised by the Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, this competition is part of a broader initiative to promote traditional food systems, recognise women’s culinary expertise, and encourage entrepreneurship among Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The grand finale brought together 10 outstanding finalist teams from Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Nuapada, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Boudh, Nabarangpur, and Jagatsinghpur, all of whom secured their places through block and district-level contests, culminating in a rigorous semi-final round on July 20, 2025.
During the award ceremony, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida welcomed the finalists. She praised the determination of the women who managed to participate in the event despite their ongoing household responsibilities. She emphasised the importance of women taking on entrepreneurial challenges as a form of empowerment and a step towards fulfilling the government’s vision for a developed Bharat and Odisha. Although the program aimed to revive traditional culinary heritage, the Mission Shakti Department’s initiative primarily sought to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit among women. The Deputy Chief Minister also thanked the officials of the Mission Shakti Department for their meticulous planning and teamwork, which contributed to the program’s success.
Chef Abinash, the winner of the sixth edition of MasterChef India, served as the main judge for the competition. He was joined by Executive Chef Suraj of Hotel Mayfair and Executive Chef Sambit Suman from the Institute of Hotel Management as other jury members. This initiative was a unique partnership between the Institute of Hotel Management Bhubaneswar, Hotel Mayfair, Bhubaneswar, and the Mission Shakti Department.
Shree Sakambari SHG from Dhenkanal, Maa Gadachandi SHG from Cuttack, and Maa Dhana Khetrapal SHG from Mayurbhanj were declared the winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up, respectively, each receiving cash prizes of ₹2 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh, and ₹1 lakh.
Among the guests and dignitaries were Shalini Pandit, Commissioner cum Secretary of the Mission Shakti Department, Dr. Monica Priyadarshini, Director of Mission Shakti, as well as additional secretaries and staff from the Department.
