Celebrating Chhenapoda Divisha : The Birth of a Beloved Odia Sweet
By Lokanath Mishra:
Today, April 11th, is celebrated as Chhenapoda Divisha, marking the birth of a traditional Odia sweet, Chhenapoda. The story of Chhenapoda’s creation is deeply rooted in the devotion and perseverance of Bidya Dhara Sahu, a resident of Dasapalla.
Bidya Dhara Sahu’s journey to create Chhenapoda began with experimentation in his village shop. Despite facing numerous challenges, he persisted in perfecting the recipe. Initially, he fired the chhena mixed with sugar using wood chips as fuel, but the result was inconsistent, with the upper portion soft and the lower portion hard.
Seeking blessings and guidance, Bidya Dhara Sahu, along with his wife Jenamani and 13-year-old son, visited Puri in 1944. They prayed to Prabhu Shri Jagannath and sought clues to create a delicious Chhenapoda. During their visit, they took darshan of the deities, consumed Mahaprasad, and rested in Emaramath.
The family’s perseverance paid off when, with the help of a Matha pujari, Bidya Dhara Sahu’s son prepared Chhenapoda by firing both sides of the pan. Although the temple police refused to offer the Chhenapoda to Prabhu Shri Jagannath, the pujari performed a chakra monhi to Sudarshan Chakra and the prasad was consumed by all present, including the mahanta and the family. The Chhenapoda was a huge success, and the family returned home with a newfound sense of purpose.
Bidya Dhara Sahu renamed his son Sudarshan and continued to perfect the Chhenapoda recipe. The sweet dish gained popularity, and Sudarshan’s birthdate, April 11, 1931, became synonymous with Chhenapoda Divisha. To this day, April 11th is celebrated as a tribute to the beloved Odia sweet, Chhenapoda.
