During the holy month of Kartik in Odisha, people stick to a vegetarian diet & follow rituals that involve eating traditional, sattvic (pure) foods.
Here are some popular Odia dishes consumed during this sacred month:
Habisa Dalma: A special version of Dalma, prepared without onion and garlic with moong dal (split green gram), raw banana, pumpkin, yam, and other vegetables, flavoured with minimal spices and ghee.
Ghee Rice: Fragrant rice cooked with a touch of ghee, often flavoured with spices like bay leaves, cloves, and cardamom.
Saga Bhaja: Various green leafy vegetables like palak (spinach), kosala (amaranth), & poi (Malabar spinach) are lightly sautéed or steamed with minimal spices.
Ouu Khatta: A sweet and tangy dish made from elephant apple (ouu), cooked with jaggery and tempered with mustard seeds and green chillies.
Kadali Bhaja: Sliced raw bananas, shallow-fried with turmeric and salt until golden and crisp.
Kandhiaa Chakata: Tangy chutney made by mashing Kandhiaa a type of tropical lime, salt, sugar and green chilli, offering a perfect blend of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours.