In the small village of Ramadha in Odisha's Balasore district, a quiet culinary revolution is taking place. Sabitri Das, a homemaker in her mid-50s, has become an unlikely digital star. Her journey from a village kitchen to social media fame underscores a powerful trend of cultural preservation through food.
A Hesitant Start Leads to Viral Success
Sabitri Das had never traveled far from her village and had never even owned a smartphone. So, when her 19-year-old son, Debashish, suggested filming her traditional Odia cooking for social media in 2024, she was hesitant. Despite her doubts, she agreed. Their makeshift studio became her handisala (kitchen) with its outdoor chuli (hearth), overlooking a small vegetable farm, with Debashish's smartphone as the camera.
Their first reel featured the making of tanka torani, a fermented rice-water drink offered to Lord Jagannath as a summer cooler. The response was overwhelming. Within just six hours, the video amassed 17,000 likes, launching Sabitri into the spotlight. There has been no looking back since.
More Than One Creator: A Movement is Born
Sabitri is not an isolated case. Across Odisha, from rural homes to urban apartments, homemakers and cooking enthusiasts are turning into digital creators. Armed with heirloom recipes passed down through generations, they are building massive followings online. Their home kitchens have transformed into vibrant spaces of expression and creativity.
"I cook in the old-fashioned way," Sabitri explains. "I prefer a traditional stone grinder over a mixer, a chuli over a gas stove, and a paniki over a chopper. Most recipes are the ones my mother used to make." This authenticity resonates deeply. Viewers often comment that her cooking evokes nostalgia and reminds them of their mother's food.
This shift marks a clear preference among audiences. They are increasingly investing time in culturally rooted, authentic food content over stylised, restaurant-style cooking videos.
Preserving Heritage for the Digital Age
Experts see this trend as a vital form of cultural documentation. Ritu Patnaik, an independent researcher in Odia cuisine, notes that the demand for content centred on Odisha's culinary heritage is growing steadily.
"By creating content on traditional dishes that are slowly disappearing from everyday menus, these creators are performing a crucial service," Patnaik states. They are preserving Odisha's rich culinary heritage while making it accessible and appealing to younger, digitally-native generations.
The story of Sabitri Das is more than just a viral success. It is a testament to how traditional knowledge, when paired with modern tools, can find a global audience, safeguard cultural identity, and create new forms of community and connection in the digital era.
