Sweets have their own cultural & traditional importance and relevance in Odisha. In every festival, ceremony or occasion, it is essential to make sweets as a part of the meal. It is believed that any meal is incomplete in India without a proper mithai or sweet dish. Sweets signify prosperity, happiness, love and affection.
Odisha rasagola is one of them which is originated from Lord Jagannath temple, Puri, Odisha more 1300yrs ego. It is first made its appearance as an offering to Lord Jagannath of Puri temple in the 12th century. It is one of the dish among Chapan bhog of Lord Jagannath.
Rasa means juice and Gola means ball. Rasagola is a ball of sweet juice. It is a milk-based sweet made by cuddling milk. A good quality Rasagola should be spongy, light, and juicy and must shrink back to the shape when squeezed. It should not be rubbery or chewy. Rasagola is easily available in all sweet shops and restaurants in every villages and town of Odisha. It is easy to make in home even.
RASOGOLA & JAGANNATH TEMPLE:
Rasagola is that it is offered to Goddess Lakshmi as Prasad at the time of Niladri Bije. During Rath Yatra lord Jagannath went to Mausi Maa (aunt’s) house with his brother and sister. Goddess Lakshmi got angry and locked the entrance door of the temple not to permit her husband to enter the temple. To please Lakshmi Mata and make her happy, Lord Jagannath brings Rasogola in a claypot and offered her. This ritual is called Niladri Bije. It is the last day of Ratha Yatra.
RASOGOLA DIWAS:
The day on which Lord Jagannath returns Shri Mandir is called as Niladri Bije. To impress his consort he offered her RASOGOLA. Now in modern days we Odias celebrate that particualr day as as Rassgola Dibas. There is not particular date on this, we celebrate it on basis of Hindu Panjika. This day is celebrated to let people remember the importance of history and origin of Rasagola in Odisha. Rasagola Dibasa was celebrated on July 30 2015 for first time on the day of Niladri Bije. Since then Odia people made it a custom to celebrate Rasagola Dibas and this day all odia people prepare and offer to goddes Lakshmi and share with family and friends.
PAHALA RASAGOLA
There is a folklore. There is a village called Pahala located on the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar. Huge numbers of cows and milk produceds was available there. The villagers couldn’t manage and used them rather started throwing those. One fine day, a priest from the Puri Jagannath temple came to th village and taught them process of making Khiramohan (Rasagola), the process exactly get prepared in Puri Jagannath temple. From that day onwards Pahal became a famous place for Rasagolas.
Rasagolas from Odisha are light brown in colour and in various size. The importance of Puri Jagannath temple on the pilgrimage route. Puri Jagannath Temple is one among the four religious dham of India. The Jagannath Temple has many historical and religious importance. One of the important significance is the Prasad of Lord Jagannath, it’s 56 bhog (Prasad) which also include Kshiramohan (Rasogola). Devotees who comes to visit Lord Jagannath Temple or other places of Odisha, they try to get a piece of it. Rasagola has been traditionally offered as prashadam to Goddess Lakshmi at the Jagannath Temple. There is documented evidence of this tradition since the 12th century.
RASAGOLA PREPARATION:
Let’s try to prepare home made rasgoola with the help of some hints. Ingredients for Rasagola -milk to make chenna, flour (maida), sugar, cardamom powder and rosewater. The method is to make Rasagola is first we have to make the Chenna with the milk . Boil the milk,add lemon juice and stir it properly. It will be paneer which is called Chenna and make it cool, then clean with cold water to take away taste and smell of lemon. Drain the extra water from chenna water and put it in muslin cloth overnight. Place the Paneer in a container add some flour, cardamom powder in it. It needs to mix it properly to make smooth dough and make the ball of chenna. Put a small sugar caramel piece in the centre of the Paneer while making each ball. To make syrup we need 2 cups of water and two cups of sugar, cardamom powder,rose water.Pour the syrup in a container and put the Paneer balls in the cold mix. We have to make it boil for 30 to 45 minutes over a low heat.Now rasagolas are ready to have it.
The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the geographical indication tag from the Registrar of Geographical Indication (GI Tag) after years of controversy. This mouthwatering rasagola is famous in Odisha and all over India.
Cover Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/_priyanka_sonu/
