Bhubaneswar: ‘Rasabali’, offered to deities of Sri Baladevjew Temple in Odisha’s Kendrapada district, has earned the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
According to sources, Kendrapara Rasabali Makers’ Association and the Rural Infrastructure Development and Employment applied for GI tag for the sweet in 2021. Later a delegation from Odisha led by Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Singh took up the matter with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
The sources said the Intellectual Property India under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued the GI certificate to ‘Rasabali’ on Tuesday.
‘Rasabali’ is prepared through a complex process. Its ingredients include cheese, ghee, milk and green cardamom. Skilled confectioners can only prepare this delicacy.
According to experts, the practice of offering ‘Rasabali’ at the Sri Baladevjew Temple at Ichhapur, on the outskirts of Kendrapara town, started during the rule of King Anangabhima Deva. Following its rising popularity, the sweetmeat is available throughout Kendrapada town. However, it has not been marketed properly due to poor promotion and export facilities. The GI tag for the sweet will now differentiate it from competing products in national and international markets.
It may be noted that the GI certification establishes specific geographical origin and certifies certain unique qualities of a product. ‘Kandhamal Haldi’ and ‘Odisha Rasagola’ were accorded the GI tag last year.
