It’s not a new thing for West Bengal claiming Odisha origin culture on their name. Be it land claim by Mamta Banerji or be it keeping Netaji’s documents for being a Bengali. Now it’s a new claim made by Bengalis that is Rasagolla.
In Odisha Rasogollas are made out of pure Chhena(Cottage Cheese) and is too soft, both are very soft and utterly delicious. The Bengali version of Rasagollas or Rasogollas are made out of Chenna, Sugar and Jaggery but it’s not that Soft as Odiya one, Bengali Rasogolla is quite spongy. This is the reason it’s also called Sponge Rasogolla.
There is a mythological story why Rasagolla was created. Once goddess Laxmi was upset with Lord Jagannath and he present her by creating this sweet to mollify goddess Laxmi, he named it KheerMohan. Laxmi was upset because Jagannath went for Rath Yatra without informing his wife goddess Laxmi. So she locks Jai Vijay Gate (One of the temple gates) and prevents Jagannath’s convoy from re-entering the sanctum of the temple, this ritual known as Arrival of God. Even today, in Puri Jagannath temple Rasagolla or “Kheer Mohan” offered as Prasad to goddess Laxmi.
The historical evidence says it’s been first originated in Odisha during 13th century; however the Jagannath Temple scholars such as Laxmidhar Pujapanda and researchers like Jagabandhu Padhi state that the tradition has existed since 12th century. When the present-day temple structure was first built. Pujapanda states that the Niladri Bije (Arival of God) tradition is mentioned in Niladri Mahodaya, which is dated to 18th century by Sarat Chandra Mahapatra. According to Mahapatra, several temple scriptures, which are over 300 years old, provide the evidence of Rasagolla offering ritual in Puri.
Modern day states Like Bihar, West Bengal, ChattisGarh, Jharkhand, MP, Rajasthan, Telengana, AP, Part of Karnatak and Tamilnadu was a part of Kalinga under Maharaja “Mahameghavahana Kharavela” during 1st Century B.C. It was under his rule that Kalinga achieved unprecedented growth both as a military as well as economic power .Kharavela was responsible in reinstating the military might of the Kalingas. This again gives evidence that West Bengal was separated from Kalinga not the Visa versa.
According to legends, Pahala (a village near Bhubaneshwar) had a large number of cows. The village would produce excess milk, and the villagers would throw it away when it became spoilt. When a priest from the Jagannath Temple saw this, he taught them the art of curdling, including the recipe for Rasagolla. Pahala thus went on to become the biggest market for chhena-based sweets in the area.
According to the Bengali culinary historian Pritha Sen, in the mid-18th century, many Odia cooks were employed in Bengali homes who arguably have introduced Rasgulla along with many other Odia dishes. According to another theory, it is possible that the Bengali visitors to Puri might have carried the recipe for Rasagolla back to Bengal in the nineteenth century.
Many history of Odisha’s were ruined and manipulated by many Politicians and mostly by West Bengal. Yet world has no idea that, another popular sweet dish Kheer or Kheeri (Rice Pudding) was also originated from Odisha. Odisha’s history and culture was compromised a lot and still it’s in peril. Being an Odiya it’s our responsibility to protect it from the Sharks and keep the legacy alive.
I really hope our state government will be able to provide sufficient evidence form the documented history that the world famous Rasagolla / Rasogolla / Rasgulla is originally a part of Odisha.
In Odisha Rasogollas are made out of pure Chhena(Cottage Cheese) and is too soft, both are very soft and utterly delicious. The Bengali version of Rasagollas or Rasogollas are made out of Chenna, Sugar and Jaggery but it’s not that Soft as Odiya one, Bengali Rasogolla is quite spongy. This is the reason it’s also called Sponge Rasogolla.
There is a mythological story why Rasagolla was created. Once goddess Laxmi was upset with Lord Jagannath and he present her by creating this sweet to mollify goddess Laxmi, he named it KheerMohan. Laxmi was upset because Jagannath went for Rath Yatra without informing his wife goddess Laxmi. So she locks Jai Vijay Gate (One of the temple gates) and prevents Jagannath’s convoy from re-entering the sanctum of the temple, this ritual known as Arrival of God. Even today, in Puri Jagannath temple Rasagolla or “Kheer Mohan” offered as Prasad to goddess Laxmi.
The historical evidence says it’s been first originated in Odisha during 13th century; however the Jagannath Temple scholars such as Laxmidhar Pujapanda and researchers like Jagabandhu Padhi state that the tradition has existed since 12th century. When the present-day temple structure was first built. Pujapanda states that the Niladri Bije (Arival of God) tradition is mentioned in Niladri Mahodaya, which is dated to 18th century by Sarat Chandra Mahapatra. According to Mahapatra, several temple scriptures, which are over 300 years old, provide the evidence of Rasagolla offering ritual in Puri.
Modern day states Like Bihar, West Bengal, ChattisGarh, Jharkhand, MP, Rajasthan, Telengana, AP, Part of Karnatak and Tamilnadu was a part of Kalinga under Maharaja “Mahameghavahana Kharavela” during 1st Century B.C. It was under his rule that Kalinga achieved unprecedented growth both as a military as well as economic power .Kharavela was responsible in reinstating the military might of the Kalingas. This again gives evidence that West Bengal was separated from Kalinga not the Visa versa.
According to legends, Pahala (a village near Bhubaneshwar) had a large number of cows. The village would produce excess milk, and the villagers would throw it away when it became spoilt. When a priest from the Jagannath Temple saw this, he taught them the art of curdling, including the recipe for Rasagolla. Pahala thus went on to become the biggest market for chhena-based sweets in the area.
According to the Bengali culinary historian Pritha Sen, in the mid-18th century, many Odia cooks were employed in Bengali homes who arguably have introduced Rasgulla along with many other Odia dishes. According to another theory, it is possible that the Bengali visitors to Puri might have carried the recipe for Rasagolla back to Bengal in the nineteenth century.
Many history of Odisha’s were ruined and manipulated by many Politicians and mostly by West Bengal. Yet world has no idea that, another popular sweet dish Kheer or Kheeri (Rice Pudding) was also originated from Odisha. Odisha’s history and culture was compromised a lot and still it’s in peril. Being an Odiya it’s our responsibility to protect it from the Sharks and keep the legacy alive.
I really hope our state government will be able to provide sufficient evidence form the documented history that the world famous Rasagolla / Rasogolla / Rasgulla is originally a part of Odisha.