The Aapano Rajasthan kiosk at the Pallishree mela area. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 18: Foodies are heading to the Bali yatra ground to sample dishes from different parts of the state and the country.

This time, it is dal-bati churma and other special dishes from Rajasthan at the Aapano Rajasthan kiosk that are drawing crowds at the food pavilion at the fair.

The special food pavilion is situated inside the National-Level Pallishree Mela.

“This is for the first time that we have set up a kiosk at Bali yatra and our items have been appreciated by all,” said Raghuveer Singh, a trader from Jaipur.

Besides the dal-bati, onion kachuri and other traditional north Indian delicacies including bajre ki roti and lasun ki chutni are big sellers at the fair.

Apart from the Rajasthani and north Indian fare, Odia favourites such as Kendrapara’s famous rasabali, Denkanal’s biri-bara and other mouth-watering dishes including dahi bara and mudhi mutton are quite popular the food pavilion, which was introduced at Bali yatra to promote traditional Odia cuisine last year.

“We do not usually get the opportunity to have all kinds of traditional food items of the state at home. Hence, the food fair inside Bali yatra is providing us with the opportunity to taste our favourite dishes,” said Dilip Kumar Reddy, a visitor from Berhampur.

The Pallishree mela, on the other hand, also offers a wide range of handicraft and other ethnic rural crafts from nearly 27 states of the country.

The fair made a record business of Rs 9 crore last year.

The mela is being organised over 1.25 lakh sqft and kiosks selling traditional goods such as brass products from Madhya Pradesh, leather items from Rajasthan, handloom and handicraft from Odisha, incense items from Mysore and other products are set up.

Officials of the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society, which is organising the Pallishree mela said the fair meant to provide a marketing platform for producers of traditional products unique to specific places.