Bhubaneswar: Pangata (ପଙ୍ଗତ), the warm and experimental community dining initiative by All Things Odisha, once again brought people together this Sunday; this time to celebrate the rich flavours and soulful stories of Western Odisha.
Hosted as the second edition of Pangata, the gathering saw food lovers, culture enthusiasts, and friends of Odisha sit together on the floor in a traditional circle, sharing home-cooked dishes and the stories behind them. The lunch event beautifully revived the Odia spirit of pangata, a feast that celebrates togetherness, trust, and belonging.
Pangata brings back the traditional style of eating together, sitting in a circle, and engaging in heartfelt discussions, enriching the sense of togetherness and belonging. In an age of fine-dining and multicuisine restaurants, it stands out as a refreshing return to simplicity, evoking a countryside warmth and keeping participants rooted in their culture. This very cultural essence makes Pangata a truly special experience for everyone who takes part.
The curated menu featured authentic delicacies such as Usuna Bhata (rice), Moong Dal, Aambil, Misagola Tarkari, Patalghanta, Hendua Chutchuta, and Saru Saga, along with Mutton (Shikar Tun), Mushroom Besar, and the sweet Sarsatia.
The food was lovingly prepared by Siddharth Panda from Rourkela, Shrutisikha Mohapatra from Sonepur, and Ritu Pattnaik, a Bhubaneswar-based food researcher. Shrutisikha and Siddharth shared the cultural context and memories attached to each dish, enriching the collective experience.
Following a well-received debut in August during Nanda Utsav, which featured a vegetarian menu, this edition deepened Pangata’s purpose- to transform dining into dialogue, and food into a bridge across stories, memories, and people.
As the afternoon ended, participants left with full hearts and fuller plates, a reminder that sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen when we simply sit, share, and eat together keeping our modern sophistication at bay.
