By Shreya Goswami
Every year since 2015, Rasagola Dibasa is observed with plenty of pomp in Odisha. But did you know that the day is also linked to Lord Jagannath, Goddess Lakshmi and something called Niladri Bije?
Rasagola Dibasa is celebrated every year in Odisha on the second day of the Hindu month of Shrawan and coincides with Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra.
Legend has it that Lord Jagannath went on the Rath Yatra without Goddess Lakshmi, his eternal divine spouse, which angered her.
So, on his return from the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath offers Rasagolas to the Goddess Lakshmi to placate her.
This placating offering of Rasagola is known as Niladri Bije and the process of placation is called Maan Bhanjan.
Even today, Goddess Lakshmi is offered Rasagola at the Jagannath Puri temple to observe the practice of Niladri Bije.
In homes across Odisha, people also offer Rasagolas to the goddess of wealth to observe Niladri Bije.
Experts believe evidence of Niladri Bije being observed with Rasagolas is found in the Dandi Ramayan and other scriptures.
This proves that the link between Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, the temple at Puri and Rasagolas has been around for centuries.
Odisha’s Rasagola received its GI Tag in 2019, and is considered a sweet with its own unique identity, separate from Bengal’s Rosogolla.