Bhubaneswar: In order to maintain the sanctity and improve the quality, steps are being taken to use organic rice in preparation of Mahaprasad in Jagannath temple of Odisha’s Puri.
This was revealed by Arabinda Kumar Padhee, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), while speaking at the ongoing three-day Krushi Odisha-2025 in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Padhee said at present chemicals, fertilisers and pesticides are used in production of the rice, which is used in making the Mahaprasad. “The state government and SJTA have been bringing reforms in management of the temple. In another step in this regard, it has been proposed to use only organic rice, produced without any chemicals, in preparation of the Mahaprasad offered to the Lords in the temple,” he added.
It may be noted that the Mahaprasad, popularly known as ‘Abhada’, is prepared in a unique manner in the kitchen on temple premises. All its items including different types of rice, dal, curry, lentils and others are cooked in earthen pots put on one another using firewood.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Padhee also appealed to the traders to desist from selling ‘Khaja’ (a type of cake) as Mahaprasad to the devotees. “It is our duty and responsibility to respect the devotees coming from outside the state. It is against our culture to cheat them in the name of Mahaprasad,” he said.
