Devotees to get free ‘Mahaprasad’ at Puri Jagannath temple soon: Odisha Law Minister

The Odisha government is planning to offer free Mahaprasad to devotees visiting the Puri Jagannath Temple soon, informed Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan. Announcing this on Sunday, the Law Minister said modalities are being worked out and the initiative would begin after the holy Kartika month.

He also requested a few noble persons and devotees to come forward and extend a helping hand as the initiative would put an additional expenditure burden of Rs 14-15 crore per year on the government.

“We are estimating an expenditure of Rs 14-15 crore every year for that purpose. A few kind-hearted devotees have come forward to extend a helping hand to the government. I believe instead of putting the burden on the government, more devotees should extend a helping hand for the noble purpose. This will earn them more blessings from Lord Jagannath,” the Law Minister said.

“We are planning to start the initiative after there is a decline in the rush in the temple due to the Kartika month, he added.

Commenting on the free Mahaprasad scheme, a servitor said, “We welcome this move by the Odisha government. Devotees will return peacefully if they are served the mahaprasad on banana leaves. If needed, they should prepare a food chart for every week.”

“They can also serve ‘dahi pakhala’, ‘rice and dalma’, ‘ambalu rohoni’, ‘abada pakhala’ and so on. Instead of making devotees stand in queue for Mahaprasad, they should be made to sit and served properly,” he added.

Worth mentioning, Mahaprasad is offered to the deities daily, and as per rituals it is not meant for sale. But the Mahaprasad made by Suars and Mahasuars (group of servitors) are sold daily at Anand Bazar, inside the shrine.