Warmth of Pitha in Chilly Winter

A chill in the air, foggy mornings and dew-kissed evenings are features of the Bangladeshi winter. That picture is only complete when paired with one other wintertime staple – the   aroma of steaming pithas that are as varied in taste as they are in their shapes and hues -- the ever-popular bhapa pitha, chitoi pitha and patishapta, to name just three. Pithas, or rice cakes, are a specialty of the season that is as beloved by those who have fond memories of their mothers and grandmothers concocting the delicious creations and those of a younger vintage, who enjoy the best of both worlds. The winter morning may start with homemade pithas but with a proliferation of streetside shops offering these quintessentially Bangladeshi delicacies for just between Tk 5 and Tk 40, the pitha party keeps going throughout the day. These pictures were taken in different pitha hotspots of Dhaka over the last month.

Photo: Anisur Rahman