Bhubaneswar: The semi-final round of the much-awaited Subhadra Shakti Traditional Food Competition was successfully held today, on 20th July 2025 at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bhubaneswar, bringing together 30 district teams from across the state for a celebration of Odisha’s culinary heritage and women-led food entrepreneurship.
Organised by the Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha, the event marks the penultimate stage in a journey that began at the block and district levels earlier. The competition is part of a visionary initiative to empower SHG women through the revival of traditional food systems and structured culinary enterprise.
Each of the 30 participating teams, comprising a Head Chef, Assistant Chef, and Kitchen Assistant, had emerged victorious in their respective district competitions. They underwent a week-long professional residential training from 14th to 19th July at IHM Bhubaneswar, where they were mentored by culinary experts including Chef Suraj Kumar Sahoo (Executive Chef, Hotel Mayfair), Chef Sa and MasterChef India Season 6 winner Abinas Nayak..
After an intense round of culinary presentations and expert evaluation by Chef Suraj Kumar Sahoo, Executive Chef, Hotel Mayfair, Chef Sambit Suman, HoD, IHM and Chef Sailesh Sekhar, Lyfe Hotel, 10 SHG teams were shortlisted for the Grand Finale, which will be held on 22nd July 2025 at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon, Bhubaneswar.
The selected teams represent Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Nuapada, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Boudh, Nabarangpur and Jagatsinghpur. Certificates and tokens of appreciation were presented to all semi-final participants.
The Subhadra Shakti Traditional Food Competition is part of a larger ecosystem of initiatives under Mission Shakti and Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), including the Subhadra Shakti Cafe, Food Melas, and SHG-led ODOP clusters, all aimed at increasing visibility, income, and entrepreneurial opportunity for women. At the same time, the initiative targets bringing traditional and forgotten food back to the food habits.
As Odisha continues its march toward Viksit Odisha, the culinary journeys of these SHG women stand as a powerful reminder that empowerment can begin in a home kitchen and flourish into enterprise, identity, and lasting change. With the finalists now preparing for the Grand Finale, the stage is set not just for a contest, but for a celebration of Odisha’s spirit, tradition, and the rise of its Lakhpati Didis.
