World Rasagola Day / Niladri Bije to Mark Grand Finale of Rath Yatra; Lord Jagannath to Offer Rasagola to Goddess Mahalaxmi

Puri/Bhubaneswar, Jul 27: The nine-day Rath Yatra festival will conclude on Monday with Niladri Bije, as Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra return to the sanctum sanctorum of Srimandir after completing their annual sojourn to the Gundicha Temple.

The occasion is marked by one of the festival's most cherished rituals, where Lord Jagannath offers rasagola to Goddess Mahalaxmi to appease her after leaving her behind during the Yatra.

Deities To Re-enter Srimandir Through Pahandi
The Niladri Bije rituals will begin with the ceremonial Pahandi of the deities from their respective chariots into the temple. As per tradition, the temple's Mahajan servitors will first escort the idols of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna from the Taladhwaja chariot and Madan Mohan from the Nandighosha chariot into the shrine. Lord Sudarshan will then be carried from the Darpadalana chariot to the temple.

Thereafter, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and finally Lord Jagannath will be taken into the temple in a grand Pahandi procession amid the sound of cymbals, traditional instruments and chants of devotees.

Rasagola Offering To End Mahalaxmi's Anger
One of the most significant rituals of Niladri Bije unfolds at the Jaya Vijaya Dwara, where Goddess Mahalaxmi symbolically prevents Lord Jagannath from entering the temple. According to tradition, the Goddess is upset because the Lord left for Gundicha Temple along with His siblings without taking her along.

To pacify her, Lord Jagannath offers rasagolas. Accepting the sweet offering, Goddess Mahalaxmi forgives the Lord and allows Him to re-enter the temple, bringing the annual Rath Yatra festivities to a close.

Also Read: Puri Municipal Corporation Undertakes Massive Civic Mobilisation For Rath Yatra 2026

World Rasagola Day
The ritual has also become synonymous with World Rasagola Day, which is observed every year on Niladri Bije to commemorate the divine offering.


In Odisha, celebrations are centred around the famous sweet shops at Pahala on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, where large crowds of customers thronged outlets since morning. Rasagolas of various varieties have been prepared for the occasion, with prices ranging from ₹5 to ₹500, catering to different tastes and preferences.

The Pahala Rasagola Traders' Association has also planned special celebrations in the evening, including distribution of rasagolas among visitors, marking the occasion with festive fervour.