Naogaon Correspondent:

Usually, when winter comes, the talk of pithapuli comes to mind. Every morning, there is a hustle and bustle of making pitha by pouring date juice from the ghat. Children and teenagers wait around the steaming stove - when will the pitha pot come down, who will eat how much pitha? This tradition, which has always been a part of rural Bengal, is not often seen anymore. However, it is not at all associated with winter. At the beginning of winter, seasonal pitha shops gather in the alleys of cities or villages.

There are various types of pitha. This pitha is a source of additional income for some, or the main means of livelihood for some. Tuku Mia is one such pitha shop on Sahebgaj Bazar Road in Atrai Upazila of Naogaon. A clay stove. A few burners on the stove. Various pitha including chitai, steam are being made on it. Next to it, there is a crowd of buyers, who are selling various kinds of bread, including dried fruits, chilies, and naan, arranged in small bowls.

Some are eating, while others are wrapping the pitha in paper thongs and taking it home. Last Saturday, around 8 pm, we spoke to Tuku Mia. He was busy selling pitha at that time. It was learned that Tuku Mia's mother is sick and besides, his two children live in Dhaka, so he is the only breadwinner in the family. He sells pitha during this winter. The rest of the time, he drives a van, so he manages to make ends meet. Tuku Mia said, "Even though I don't eat at home, there is no one to look after me. So I am forced to set up a shop on the street. Besides, there is a huge demand for pitha during this winter.

That is why I make a living by selling pitha. Besides, in Atrai Upazila's Ahsanganj Station, Atrai Helipad Road, Ahsanganj Hat Khola, Shuktigachha Bazar, Brojpur Bazar, Singsara Bazar, Madandanga, Kushatlabazar, Bhangajangal Bazar, Sahagola Railway Station Bazar, I have seen Chitai Pitha selling seasonal pitha in vans. Usually, the shops open at 4 pm and run till 9 pm. The customers gather in these shops from evening onwards.

Many people come with their families to eat pitha, while some go home with pitha. On Saturday afternoon, I spoke to local Badisda Sadiq Mia in front of a pitha shop in Sahebganj Bazar of Atrai Upazila. He was buying 7 pitha at a time. He said, basically, Making pitha at home is a hassle. Besides, there are no tools. And even when it is made, it is not as good as the one in the shop. So to reduce the hassle, I buy it from the shop.