Pitha Uthshob

Pitha Utshob (Indigenous Food Festival)

Pitha (পিঠা), is a Bangla word that refers to an indigenous food and food tradition of Bangladesh and spreading some parts of India specially Bangla speaking region of India. Pitha Utshob (পিঠা উত্সব), is a part of food tradition and food culture of Bangladeshi cuisine and occupies an important place in our culinary culture emphasizing the importance of preserving and popularizing this art. For Bangalis it has been a long tradition to make varieties of Pitha, particularly in the winter. “Utshob”, on the other hand, means festival.

Pitha Utshob is a glorious exhibition in Bangladesh during the winter season where people get together to set up stalls and sell their homemade pithas. Pithas are traditionally made with ingredients such as sugar, molasses, milk, palm syrup/ date juice, and sometimes coconut.

In 1991, the Shishu Academy of Dhaka, Bangladesh arranged an exhibition of pithas, where 106 categories of Pithas were displayed. Pithas are popular all over the country and each area has its unique type of pithas. The most common and popular Pithas that are well-known throughout Bangladesh are Chitoi Pitha, Patishapta, Pakan, Bhapa Pitha, Andosha, Kulshi Pitha, Pata Pitha, Jhuri Pitha, Muthi Pitha, Roser Pitha and many more.

For the past 20 years, BCCDi hosting Pitha Utshob in Fairfax County, more than a few thousand community members participate to enjoy the entertainment by the BCCDI students and to shop in many cultural arts and crafts stores (vendors) and taste gourmets’ food.