Odisha: Kendrapara district’s famous Rasabali gets GI tag

Bhubaneswar: The famous Rasabali of Odisha’s Kendrapara district received a geographical indication (GI) tag from the Centre today. An advertisement has been published in this regard by the Geographical Indications Registry on its official website.

According to the official source, Kendrapara Rasabali Mistanna Nirmata Sangha and Rural Infrastructure Development & Employment had earlier applied for the GI tag on December 13, 2021. However, the GI registration is valid up to December 12, 2031, the source added.

Worth mentioning, a few other outfits had also raised a demand for the (GI) tag to Rasabali.

The demand was made on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan (Gamha Purnima), which is also observed as the birthday of Lord Baladevjew. The outfits said that this day be observed as Rasabali Dibas.

Rasabali originated in Baladevjew temple of Kendrapara district. The sweets are offered to the presiding deity as a Bhog. It is one of the Chapana Bhog of Lord Jagannath temple.

The sweets consist of deep-fried and flattened reddish-brown patties of Chhena (cheese). The patties are soaked in thickened and sweetened milk.