Niladri Bije: The ‘Sweet’ Tale Of Lord Jagannath’s Return To Sanctum Sanctorum

Puri: Twelve days after they embarked on their annual sojourn, the Triad will return to the sanctum sanctorum of Jagannath Temple in Puri with the Niladri Bije rituals on Friday night.

The Pahandi will be held between 4 pm and 10 pm after the traditional offering of Rasagola by Lord Jagannath to Goddess Laxmi, the temple administration informed.

Legend has it that Lord Jagannath offers Rasagola to pacify Goddess Laxmi, who is upset for not being allowed to accompany Him to Gundicha Temple and refuses to let Him in.

According to the Record of Rights, this is the duty of Bhitarachha Sebaka. The reference of Rasagola is also found in the late 15th-century Odia Ramayana written by Balaram Das. Also known as Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana, it was composed and sung at the Jagamohana of the Puri Temple.

Since 2015, Odisha has been Rasagola Dibasa on Niladri Bije, marking the end of the 12-day Rath Yatra festival, to let people know the history and origin of the sweet dish amid its fight with West Bengal for a GI Tag.