Bhubaneswar: To celebrate one of the famous Odisha delicacies ‘Chhenapoda’, a dessert made of baked cottage cheese, ‘Chhenapoda Dibasa’ is being celebrated throughout the state Tuesday.
However, the eternal wait for the GI tag of the Nayagarh Chhenapoda continues.
The ‘Chhenapoda Dibasa’ is being celebrated April 11 – the birthday of its inventor Sudarshan Sahu. The day is marked as a tribute to Sahu.
Born April 11, 1931 at Satapatana village under Daspalla block in Nayagarh district, Sudarshan moved out of his village and set up a sweet stall at the heart of Nayagarh town in 1947. Along with his father Bidyadhar Sahu, Sudarshan came up with the recipe for this mouthwatering Odia delicacy.
Chhenapoda’s sinfully tempting taste gradually became a favourite dessert for every Odia household.
However, even after 91 years of its invention, the sweet and succulent Chhenapoda, which tickles the taste bud of every foody, has failed to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
This delicacy has gained Nayagarh a distinct identity. Reportedly, the Nayagarh district administration has also applied for the GI tag of Chhenapoda.
Nayagarh Collector Rabindra Nath Sahu said that there is no dispute from any other state about the GI tag for Chhenapoda so far. He said that efforts are being made to prove that Chhenapoda was first invented in Nayagarh.
PNN
