Interesting Facts About Odisha Mahaprasad

Odisha famous food "56 Bhog" also known as chappan Bhog.This is most commonly known as Mahaprasad. 

Yes this is food but you cannot tell or spell out this as food. This is special food which get prepared in Jaganath Temple and first gets serve to all 3 almighty : Brother Balaram, Lord Jagannath and sister Subhadra.

Soon after this Mahaprasad served to Maa Bimala in the Grand Temple(Sri-Mandir)is known as 'Mahaprasad'.

Mahaprasad which consist of 56 items are classified into two types :

• Sunkudi Mahaprasad : This consists of items rice, daal, mixed rice, saaga bhaja, khatta, mixed curries, sweet daal
• Sukhila Mahaprasad : Dry sweets. This is also known as Nirmalaya ( dry boiled rice ) i.e. dala khichidi.

After serving this food. It straightly goes to Anand Bazar where everyone poor, rich and brahmin purchase and share.

Anand Bazar : Place where Mahaprasad is sold to visitors

Photo : Temple servants carrying Mahaprasad 

Pic : This is special juice known as " Tanka Toraani " 

Interesting Facts About Mahaprasad : 

• The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is one of the  biggest kitchens in India.
• As per the source it is believed around 500 cooks and 300 helping hands prepare 100 different offerings known as Mahaprasad or Abhada for Lord Jagannath, which are served to the Deity six times a day.
• There are approximately 245 cooking chulaas ( burners).
• Items are prepared in mud big-big mud pots ( placing one above the other). 
• The pot on top get first cooked followed by another down..hence the lowest one get cooked at last only. This is secret and no one knows the reason behind it.  
• If you share your Mahaprasad with others, God becomes more happier. This prasad should be shared with every people coming to you starting from Beggar to rich people. 
• If one visit Ananad Bazar, one will see a different scene there , beggars , priests , rich, middle class everyone will be sharing same food to each other. This is the real reason. 
• It is also said , Maa Lakhsmi said : " who ever comes to Anand Bazar and eat this Mahaprasad should share and eat. There should not be any discrimination in cast, category and also one should not wash their hands after having this Mahaprasad rather they should hover both hands on their heads , sign of prayer to almighty"

How To Reach Puri Temple ?

One can reach to Puri via : Bus, Train , Cars, Bikes.The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, 60 km. Reaching Puri through Rail - Puri is a terminus on the East Coast Railway having direct express and super fast train links with New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Okha, Ahmedabad, Tirupati etc.

Best Time To Visit :  Rath Yatra is considered as the auspicious and best time to visit Puri temple as this is the time when all 3 god comes out of the temple to meet their followers. 

 

2016 Rath Yatra : Puri Rath Yatra 2016  or Car Festival The most awaited festival of Rath Yatra Puri commences on the 06th July, Saturday 2016 and Return Car Festival or' Bahuda Jatra' falls on 15th July this year.

Next time if you are planning to visit Odisha, don't forget to visit World famous temple " Puri Temple"  and also don't forget to taste the famous 56 bhog.

Information collected via  : 

• Wikipedia Mahaprasad 
• Other : personal experience ( travel )