Four hallowed shrines (Char Dham) located at cardinal points of the Indian sub-continent i.e. Puri, Rameswar, Dwarka, and Badrinath are believed to have been liked by Lord Vishnu intimately. It is believed that he takes his bath at Rameswaram, meditates at Badrinath, dines at Puri, and retires at Dwarika. Hence, the temple food at Puri named “Mahaprasad” (The Greatest Prasad of all) is held to be of supreme importance. It consolidates the human bond, and sanctifies, sacraments, and grooms the departing soul for its journey to heaven.
On the occasion of Rath Yatra, 19 Odia women who are food bloggers on Facebook marked the holy occasion by preparing the recipes of the Holy Bhog. They created a whole video of the recipes which is garnering a lot of praise on social media.
Dressed in traditional Odia Saris and propped with Idols and Rath replica, these women show each of their preparations one by one as the video proceeds. Each of the food items is presented in clay pots just like they do in the Puri Temple. They even show the ritual of sanctifying the food with water and Tulsi.
”No one in this world can make the Mahaprasad exactly as it is made in the temple. We have made a small effort rendering all our devotion and love towards Lord Jagannath to make some of his offerings, the way which he loves,” they quote.
Name of the Bloggers along with the dishes :
- Jhilly’s Spice Box- Pakhala, Kadali Bhaja, Sagga Bhaja
- Deepali Parida – Ghee Anna
- Sunafulla prusty – Adda Hengu Khichudi
- Sarita Mahapatra – Kanika
- Sarmista Mahapatra – Mitha Dali
- Nibedita Panda – Dalma
- Puspanjali Budek – Sagga
- Sailaja Dash – Besara
- Ipsita Mishra – Mahura
- Siksha Pattnaik – Madhuruchi
- Jolly Bisoyii – Goti Baigana Maricha Pani
- Mousumi Nayak – Goti Potala
- Sushri Parida Palai – Pheni
- Anushree Anindita Nayak – Amalu
- Sucharita Mohapatra – Poda Pitha
- Swarnalata Behera – Pulipitha
- Ananya Panda Mohapatra – Magaja Ladoo
- Manaswini Nayak – Kheeri
- Namita Nayak – Rasagolla
Watch the video:
About Mahaprasad
According to “Skanda Purana” Lord Jagannath redeems the devotees by permitting them to partake his Mahaprasad, have his darshan, and worship him by observing rituals and offerings. Mahaprasad is treated here as ‘Anna Brahma’ as in the origin of food.
There are majorly 56 food items offered to Lord Jagannath in the holy Temple. The items offered include cooked rice, dal, vegetable curry, sweet dishes, cakes, etc. Dry confectioneries are prepared of sugar, gur, wheat flour, ghee, milk, and cheese ( Chenna), etc.
The Prasāda is first offered to him and later to Maa Bimala (Lakshmi). It is also widely known as the famous Chappan Bhog.
The temple kitchen has the capacity to cook for one lakh devotees per day. Mahaprasad is cooked specifically in earthen pots using firewood as fuel.
After it is offered to the deities, Mahaprasad is sold in Anand Bazar which is situated on the northeast corner of the outer enclosure of the temple. It is the biggest open-air hotel in the world partaken by people of all castes and creeds without any discrimination.