Millet dishes took center stage in a vibrant cooking competition held in Madikeri, Kodagu district, Karnataka. Over 60 teams competed in this district-level event organized by Kodagu district administration, Zilla Panchayat, and the Agriculture Department. The contest aimed to revive forgotten millet-based culinary traditions. The event showcased delicious snacks and meals made from various millets such as jowar, ragi, foxtail millet, pearl millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, and little millet. Creative entries included ragi dosa, nippattu, chakli, kodu bale, kajjaya, millet payasa, millet pulao, ragi biscuits, millet cake, and many more. Sweet and spicy dishes competed in separate categories, with prize money ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 for the top winners. Joint Director of Agriculture Chandrashekar praised millets for their health benefits, saying, "millet consumption strengthens bones and provides essential calcium." He encouraged people to add millets to their daily meals. Before the cooking event, an awareness rally on millets was held, flagged off by Kodagu Zilla Panchayat CEO Anand Prakash Meena. The rally saw participation from NCC students, farmers, and officials, starting at the Madikeri fort and ending at Gandhi Maidan. Mr. Meena said, "Millets are nutrient-rich" and urged more people to understand their benefits. He noted, "Incorporating millets helps maintain a balanced diet, and can aid in managing diabetes and blood pressure."