RAIPUR,CG,BHARAT: The Rajyotsav festivities at Nava Raipur have drawn large crowds eager to sample authentic Chhattisgarhi dishes, with the ‘Garh Kaleva’ food court buzzing for a second consecutive day on Tuesday. Visitors are enjoying a variety of regional delicacies, each dish capturing the cultural essence of Chhattisgarh.

The state’s culinary heritage is embodied in traditional favourites like ‘bada’, ‘fara’, ‘cheela’, and ‘bhajiya’, dishes that generations of Chhattisgarhi people cherish. The rice-based fara is prepared in both sweet and savoury versions: the sweet version uses jaggery syrup, while the savoury option is steamed and served with a hint of sugar for added flavour.

Similarly, cheela comes in sweet and salty varieties, known locally as ‘nunha cheela’ (with salt) and ‘gurha cheela’ (with jaggery). These are enhanced with green chilies and served alongside ‘patal’ (tomato) chutney, a popular dipping sauce. Bhajiya, a crispy fritter made from either urad dal or gram flour, rounds out the balanced and flavourful offerings, celebrated for their healthiness and rooted in Chhattisgarhi tradition.

Visitors like Kalyani Yadav, Rajmati Sahu from Abhanpur, and Rani Verma from Bemetara expressed their delight with the authentic flavours, noting how the dishes reminded them of homemade meals. “The taste here at Garh Kaleva is just like the dishes we prepare at home,” shared Geeta Verma, capturing the sentiment of many enjoying the food court experience.

Rajyotsav 2024 continues to highlight Chhattisgarh's rich culinary and cultural heritage, delighting locals and visitors alike with a taste of tradition.