Puri, Jul 8: Odisha is immersed in sweet celebration today as devotees mark Rasagola Dibasa, a festival that coincides with the sacred ritual of Niladri Bije—the concluding ceremony of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

Niladri Bije commemorates the return of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra to the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple after their nine-day stay at Gundicha Temple. However, the homecoming is not without drama.

According to the tradition, Goddess Mahalaxmi, upset for being left behind during the journey, bars Lord Jagannath from entering the temple. To appease her, the Lord offers rasagolas, symbolising love, humility, and reconciliation.

Since 2015, this day has been celebrated as Rasagola Dibasa to highlight Odisha’s rich culinary and cultural heritage. The ritual not only reflects divine emotions but also reinforces the historical roots of the iconic sweet in Odia tradition. References to rasagola offerings appear in 15th-century texts like the Jagamohana Ramayana, and Odisha’s version of the dessert received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019.

Across the state, sweet shops are bustling with activity, offering rasagolas in various flavours. Families exchange the syrupy delicacy as a gesture of harmony and joy, while cultural programs and devotional music fill the air in Puri and beyond.

read more Odisha News