Bhubaneswar: In a significant shift, organic rice will be used for the preparation of Kotha Bhoga for the sibling deities at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri from the next Rath Yatra in 2026.
This information was shared by Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Kumar Padhee, who is also the Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department.
As per arrangements being made by the authorities, the rice for preparing Kotha Bhoga and Mahaprasad will be sourced from the Balabhadra Jaivik Chasa Mission, which is promoting organic cultivation in several districts of Odisha.
Officials said that farmers in Niali area of Cuttack district and Jeypore in Koraput are in the process of raising organic rice specifically for Kotha Bhoga and Mahaprasad for the Lords in the 12th century shrine.
The initiative is being implemented under the Shree Anna Abhiyan and Balabhadra Jaivik Chasa Mission, through which the government provides assistance to farmers cultivating organic rice, reportedly. Selected farmers are now growing rice. When harvested, the rice will be collected and sent to Puri Jagannath Temple.
Notably, the SJTA Chief reportedly visited these areas and interacted with the farmers engaged in this initiative. The harvested organic rice is proposed to be first used to prepare Kotha Bhoga and subsequently Mahaprasad at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Efforts are on to fully implement the initiative during the Rath Yatra next year. As per sources, the rice has already been harvested during the Kharif season and is ready to be transported to the Puri temple for preparation of the offerings.
Officials said that organic rice cultivation is likely to benefit farmers directly and provide them with a sustainable source of income, apart from supporting the practices at the Puri Temple.