Laxman, Gyansa and Raghwati
On Saturday the 12th of March 2022 a training program on making a variety of different food items using traditional millets and Mahua flowers was held at the Bhariya village of Gaildubba in Patalkot, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. The event was organized by Nirman (Using Diversity Partner) and supported by the Using Diversity Network. Community fellows Laxman Ahekey, Gyansa Bharti and Raghwati Kavrati were responsible for carrying out the program. Eighteen women from the 12 villages of Patakot participated in the event.
Shreemati Muniya Marskole provided training to the women on how to prepare different food items using traditional millets like Kutki (Little millet), Kodo (Kodo millet), Sanwa (Barnyard millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl Millet), Mandia (Finger millet), Kangni and Kang (varieties of Foxtail millet); and Mahua flowers which is an important uncultivated food.
The women learnt how to prepare items like Kheer, Laddu, Khichdi, Pulao, Papri, Sev, and Chakli using millets. They were also taught how to make Laddu, Pudi and Ghotu using Mahua flowers. The members of the Adivasi community inhabiting the villages of Patalkot have traditionally been cultivating, harvesting and consuming these crops and uncultivated foods and they have been an important part of their diet making important contributions to their health and nutritional security. However, the younger generation and children in particular are not liking food items prepared in the old way using millets and uncultivated food. So the objective of the event was to enable the women to prepare delicious and nutritious food items using new methods and recipes so that their children would enjoy and be happy to consume these traditional foods prepared in a contemporary manner.
The training program was well received by the women and feedback received from some of them is as follows:
Gajarvati Bai – “From my childhood I have eaten Kutki Bhat (a rice like preparation using little millet). I am around 58 years old, but I have never eaten Kutki Kheer, Khichdi, laddu chakli and Mahua Pudi. Today I got to learn how to prepare all these items and now I will prepare them and feed my family and neighbours.”
Mangalvati – “From the time I was a child till now I only knew about Mandia roti (finger millet roti) being made using Mandia. Through this training program I have learnt how to make Mandia chakli, namkin and laddu.”
Ashabai – “This training program should be for at least 2 days because it is not possible to learn so many things in one day. According to me in order to learn so many different recipes one day is a very short time.”
Mamta Parane – “If I can get all the different types of grains then I will prepare all the different food items in my Kitchen in Patalkot and sell them because these grains are organic and are also very tasty.”
