‘Janhi Posta, chhuin besara’ on President’s menu during Puri stay

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Aug 7:

President Pranab Mukherjee would spend the night at the Raj Bhawan here on the first day of his two-day visit to Odisha beginning today.

The officials are leaving no stones unturned to offer the best hospitality to the President along with his nearly 60-member entourage.

Sea side Holiday Resort Hotel has been entrusted with the catering, mainly consisting of Odia cuisine, for the Presidential visit.

As many as 56 types of vegetarian delicacies will be on the menu for dinner for the first citizen of the country and the accompanying staff.  However, the famous Mahaprasad (cooked food) of Lord Jagannath has not found place in the list.

While Pranab Mukherjee will be taking vegetarian food, non-vegetarian dishes will be prepared for the officials accompanying the President, sources said.

Some of the mouth-watering Odia cuisine in the menu include: Janhi posto (ridge gourd curry), Chhuin besara (drumstick curry), Aloo posto (potato curry), Bhendi chhunka (ladyfinger curry), Kalara tawa seejha (bitter gourd tawa fry), Badi choora, plain rice, pulao, ghee rice, naan, gram dal and moong dal, mushroom and paneer curry.

The sweet dishes on offer are Chhena poda, kheera, tadiya, rasagola, chhena kata, kakera peetha, nadiya peetha, kheera peetha and sooji peetha.

Dessert will consist of Mango mascarpone, Tiramisu, imported apples and grapes.

South Indian and intercontinental breakfast will be offered to the guests tomorrow morning, sources said.

“As of now, it is unclear whether arrangement for Mahaprasad has been done for the President. But, the dry bhog will be presented by the temple administration to him,” an official of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said.

President Mukherjee is scheduled to offer prayers at Jagannath temple here at around 6 pm for which the darshan for public will be restricted for over two hours.

Tight security arrangements have been put in place for Mukherjee’s two-day visit to the state.