In the wake of the fight over Rasagola ownership between Odisha and West Bengal, the Odisha Suraksha Sena has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to intervene in the issue and take efforts to bring Rasogala’s Odisha origin to the fore.
“The controversy over Rasagola ownership between Odisha and West Bengal is ludicrous while the history of Rasagola in Odisha is very old and West Bengal stands nowhere close to it in picture. But West Bengal has moved to Chennai with full-fledged preparation to do GI (Geographic Indicator) registration. At this juncture, you should intervene into the issue and take appropriate measures to uphold centuries-old Rasagola culture of Odisha,” said Sena general secretary Gajendra Behera in a memorandum to the Chief Minister.
Behera stated that Rasagola has been used as Prasad in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri for centuries. The centuries-old Madala Panji has mentions that lord Jagananth offers Rasagola to Maa laxmi during Niladribije every year. Maa laxmi becomes pleased and allow to the lord and His siblings to enter Shreemandir after Rath Yatra. It is a very important ritual being followed down the centuries.
Behera said the Sena has condemned the West Bengal Government’s efforts to get GI tag on Rasagola falsely.