Bhubaneswar, Nov 11: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has urged women to offer millet grains to Goddess Lakshmi during the upcoming Manabasa Gurubara festival, emphasizing the promotion of millets as part of a healthier, sustainable diet. His call was made during the opening of the International Symposium on Shree Anna (Millet) & Forgotten Foods (ISSFF) in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଆମ ସରକାର ଶ୍ରୀଅନ୍ନର ଅଧିକ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ ପାଇଁ ଚାଷୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆବଶ୍ୟକୀୟ ସହାୟତା ଯୋଗାଇ ଦେଉଛନ୍ତି। ଆମକୁ ଏହାକୁ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଦୈନନ୍ଦିନ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳାରେ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭୁକ୍ତ କରିବାକୁ ପଡିବ। ମାଣ୍ଡିଆକୁ ସ୍ୱାଦିଷ୍ଟ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନୂଆ ନୂଆ ପ୍ରକାର ବ୍ୟଞ୍ଜନ ଓ ନୂଆ ପ୍ରକାର ବ୍ୟଞ୍ଜନ ଶୈଳୀକୁ ଘରେ ଘରେ ପହଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଫୁଡ୍… pic.twitter.com/MV1eoss9Mk
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) November 10, 2024
Majhi highlighted that offering millet as part of the festival, which celebrates Goddess Mahalaxmi, would help spread awareness about the nutritional benefits of this ancient grain. Manabasa Gurubara, celebrated every Thursday during the Odia month of Margasira (November-December), traditionally involves offerings of various grains like rice to the goddess.
ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha କୃଷି ଓ କୃଷକ ସଶକ୍ତିକରଣ ବିଭାଗ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଆୟୋଜିତ ଦୁଇ ଦିନିଆ ‘ଅନ୍ତର୍ଜାତୀୟ ଶ୍ରୀ ଅନ୍ନ ଓ ବିସ୍ମୃତ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ’କୁ ଉଦ୍ଘାଟନ କରିଛନ୍ତି।ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ମିଲେଟ ଜାତୀୟ ଫସଲର ଉତ୍ପାଦନ ଏବଂ ବ୍ୟବହାରକୁ ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରିବା ସହ ଓଡ଼ିଶାକୁ ଭାରତର ମିଲେଟ ହବରେ ପରିଣତ କରାଯିବ। ଏଥିପାଇଁ ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷ ବଜେଟରେ… pic.twitter.com/Kh6BozEfjM
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) November 10, 2024
The Chief Minister’s appeal to incorporate millet into these rituals is part of a larger push to revive and popularize the grain, which is known for its health benefits and environmental sustainability. By linking millet with this important cultural tradition, Majhi hopes to encourage its use in everyday cooking, benefiting both people’s health and the local economy.
As Manabasa Gurubara is a significant festival in Odisha, this initiative could have a widespread impact, particularly in raising the profile of millet as a key part of Odisha’s food heritage. It also aligns with the state’s efforts to promote traditional, forgotten foods as a modern solution for better nutrition and environmental sustainability.