Page 42 - 4.4 Abhivyakti

THE SUMMER I FELL IN

LOVE WITH ODISHA - AGAIN !

Ah, Odisha — my forever comfort zone, my

drama-filled vacation spot, my "I'll never get tired of
you" kind of place! The second my summer holidays

started, I was like, "Bas! Odisha chalte hain!" I packed
my bags with full Bollywood heroine energy,
imagining slow-mo scenes of me stepping out of the

train with wind in my hair (reality: it was just hot and
sweaty, but still iconic.) The air there felt like home

— warm, familiar, and sprinkled with nostalgia.

Now let's talk about food, because honestly,
what's a trip without food drama? Odisha's food

is not just delicious — it's emotional. From tangy
dalma to soft pithas, crunchy baras, spicy
ghuguni, and that legendary pakhala bhata —

every bite tasted like childhood, comfort, and
festival vibes all mixed together. Add sweets

dripping in ghee to that, and I was officially living
my best foodie life.

And then came the most divine part of my trip —

the Jagannath Temple in Puri. I was too lucky to
visit it three continuous days, and every single
time, it felt new. The chants, the temple bells, the

sound of the sea nearby — everything blended
into this surreal peace that's hard to explain. I

swear, for those moments , that's when I realized
Odisha isn't just a state, it's a feeling.

SUPRIYA SUBUDHI
GRADE 11
NAND VIDYA NIKETAN
JAMNAGAR

36