Anjali Das at her pitha-making class. Picture by Biju Boro

Jan. 16: Pitha-making classes are doing the rounds this Bhogali Bihu, thanks to the initiatives of some enterprising women in the city.

These women are taking pains to popularise the traditional art of pitha-making among the new generation. Though pithas have made their way to shelves in shops, the art is dying a slow death for lack of interest among the youths.

The classes are reportedly attracting young crowd. “I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the young boys to learn how to make pithas. This time, as many as six boys in my neighbourhood enrolled for the pitha-making classes,” Anjali Das, a member of Mulagabharu, a women’s group at the Ganesh Nagar area in Basistha, said.

Mulagabharu has taken up the task of holding pitha-making classes in the locality. “During our time, almost every girl knew how to make pithas. But nowadays in the fast pace urban life, there is hardly any time to learn these skills,” Das added. Rabia Ahmed, a culinary expert of the city, too holds pitha-making classes during Bihu. “I try to impart skills on the basics of making pitha like the dheki and the ural (mortar for pounding). The first step is to ascertain the quality of the rice and the molasses.”

The students are taught at an affordable fee. They are taught how to make various kinds of pithas, ranging from teel pitha, coconut pitha, chunga pitha, pheni pitha. “There are almost 64 varieties of pithas and some of them are known by different names at different places. For example, hazar mukhia pitha is also known as setou pitha and khula sapori pitha in some places. Everything depends on the taste, habits and convenience,” Ahmed said. Bihu means busy time for Meera Das of Bharalumukh area. “Many women and young girls used to come to take tips from me on the art of making pithas. Many of them could get their shape right. I decided to hold formal classes so that we can keep our tradition alive,” Das said. There are also many pitha-making contests organised by various Bihu committees. Das had won prizes for her exotic coconut laddoos at the contest held at the Paschim Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani.

Manajari Dutta of Rukminigaon won prizes for different varieties of pitha at contests organised on the occasion of Uruka. “A lot depends on the quality, size and shape of the pithas. It’s an art which I have learnt from my mother and am trying to impart it to my daughters,” she said.