Char Dham
(Four Abodes) are the holiest pilgrimage places in India. The four pilgrim
sites are Rameswaram, Puri, Dwarka and Badrinath. These places have special significance
in Hindu religion. According to Hindu legends, Vishnu, the Supreme God Svayam
Bhagavan of Vaishnavism takes a bath in the seaside temple of Rameswaram in Tamil
Nadu. The Lord comes for a meal to Puri in Odisha, then moves to Badrinath in
Uttarkhand for the welfare of the humanity and retires in Dwarka in Gujarat.
Jagannatha, a
form of Vishnu is worshiped in Puri along with his brother Balabhadra and
sister Subhadra. Since the Lord dines at Puri, the food is an integral part of
all spiritual activities in Jagannatha temple. The Lord's food is served to the
devotees as Mahaprasad.
There
are 56 major food items popularly known as Chhappan Bhog first offered to Lord
Jagannath and later to Maa Bimala in the Grand Temple. In addition to these,
there are more than hundreds of other food items such as laddoo, malpua, kheer
and rasagulla offered to the God. It is
said that the foods are served to the Gods six times a day.
Mahaprasad
is prepared by a team of 1000 cooks. It is relished by over 1,000,00 devotees daily.
The Mahaprasad is available at Ananda Bazar premises of temple. It is said to
be the world's largest open-air eatery. Here devotees eat together irrespective
of their caste, creed or status. People also take Mahaprasad to their homes to
offer it to their guests during social functions such as thread ceremonies and
weddings.
Mahaprasad
is classified into two types - 'Sankudi' and 'Sukhila' (dried). 'Sankudi'
Mahaprasad are the food items such as rice, ghee rice, mixed rice, cumin seed
and asaphoetida-ginger rice mixed with salt. Sukhila mahaprasad consists of dry
sweetmeats.
The preparation of Mahaprasad is quite
interesting. There are more than seven hundred chulhas, or stoves in the
kitchen. The stoves are lit with charcoal and wood. Vessels are put one of top
of the other. The top vessel is cooked
first. The rice is stacked in the bottom pots, while vegetables are placed at
the top. Rice and vegetables are prepared together this way. However, the
actual method of cooking is still a mystery.
The kitchen area is a highly restricted area in the temple. Only the
selected cooks are allowed inside the kitchen.
Regardless to this, the Mahaprasada always holds special importance in
every Hindu’s life.
Here is the list of Chhappan
Bhog
1
) Ukhuda ( Sugar coated puffed rice)
2
) Nadia kora(Coconut ladu)
3
) Khua (condensed milk)
4
) Dahi (Yoghurt)
5
) Pachila kadali (Ripe Banana)
6
) Kanika (Flavoured Rice)
7
) Tata Khechudi (Dry Khechudi)
8
) Mendha Mundia (A kind of cake)
9
) Bada Kanti (Fried Cake)
10)
Matha Puli (A kind of Pan cake)
11)
Hamsa Keli (Sweet cake)
12)
Jhili ( Thin pan cake like Dosa)
13)
Enduri ( Idli)
14)
Adapachedi (Ginger Paste)
15)
Saga Bhaja (Fried spinach)
16)
Kadali Bhaja (Fried Plantain)
17)
Maric Ladu (Chilli Ladu)
18)
San Pitha ( Small size Cake)
19)
Bara/Vada (Donalds)
20)
Arisha (Sweet fried cake made by rice flour)
21)
Bundia ( Sweet granules made of Chick pea flour)
22)
Pakhal oriya(Water rice)
23)
Khiri (Milk Rice)
24)
Kadamba( A kind of sweet)
25)
Pat Manohar (Name of a sweet)
26)
Takuaa(Sweets shaped like tongue)
27)
Bhaga Pitha (A kind of cake )
28)
Gotai(A kind of salty cake)
29)
Dalma(Dal with vegetables)
30)
Bada Kakara(Large Fried sweet cake)
31)
Luni Khuruma (Salty Biscuits)
32)
Amalu ( Malpua, Sweet Puri)
33)
Suar Pitha (Poda Pitha, Baked Cake)
34)
Biri Buha(Black gram cake )
35)
Jhadai Nadaa(a cluster of small ball shaped cakes)
36)
Khasta Puri(Strong fried cakes)
37)
Kadali Bara(Fried Plantain)
38)
Sana Arisha (Small fried cakes)
39)
Sakar(Chatni)
40)
Podo Pitha(Panned Cake)
41)
Kanji(Sour Rice)
42)
Dahi Pakhal(Curd rice )
43)
Bada Arisha(Large size Fried cake)
44)
Tipuri(Three stage fillings)
45)
Sakara(Sugar candy)
46)
Suji Khir(Milk with samolina)
47)
Muga Sijha(Boiled green gram)
48)
Manohar(a kind of sweet)
49)
Magaja Ladu(A kind of sweet like simply wonderful)
50)
Pana(Sweet Drink)
51)
Anna(Rice)
53)
Ghia Anna(Ghee rice)
54)
Sweet Dal
55)
Besar(Curry)
56)
Sag(Spinach)
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