Rasagola originated 600 years ago in Odisha: State Govt
The Odisha government on Monday claimed that the Rasagola’s history in the state dates back to 600 years and the sweet was used in daily rituals of temples and mutts of Odisha centuries ago.
Based on the interim report of the three panels set up by the state government to prepare evidence to the state’s claim over the Rasagola, Science and Technology minister Pradip Kumar Panigrahi said, “The committee constituted to find out the origin of rosogolla has submitted its interim report and according to the report, ample evidence of its presence and use has been discovered in various shrines and mutts in Odisha 600 years ago.”
Panigrahi said there were evidences supporting Odisha’s claim over Rasagola in epics like Mahabharata, the one written by Sarala Das, Dandi Ramayan and also in Madala Panji, the ancient text used by the 12th century Sri Jagannath Temple.
“Even we have evidence regarding availability of Rasagola in Odisha when Adi Shankaracharya visited Sri Jagannath Temple,” Panigrahi said. He said the committee has sought a month’s time to submit its final report and the government will take next course of action to get Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the syrupy delicacy.
The Odisha government has set up three committees to look into the evidence regarding the origin of Rasagola in Odisha. While the first committee will collect evidence about the origin of Rasagola in the state, the second will study the grounds for West Bengal staking claim to it, and the third will collect necessary documents to validate Odisha’s stand.
Odisha is claiming that Rasagola was first served at the 12th-century Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, while Bengal only traces it back to 150 years.
Watch Comedy: Rasagola battle between an Odia and Bengali
West Bengal has already submitted the application for a GI tag for the Rasagola to stake claim on the delicacy and beat Odisha. West Bengal is claiming that Nabin Chandra Das had introduced Rasagola in 1868.
