Bhubaneswar: Odisha government is to seek GI registration for Odishara Rasagolla, as per an official statement from the Chief Minister's office today.
Rasagolla, which originated in Odisha, has been offered at Jagannath Temple in Puri as part of religious rituals since the 12th century by the Odias, read the statement, which was in reaction to a recent announcement by neighbouring State West Bengal that it has won the GI tag for the sweet.
"It has come to our notice that Banglar Rasogolla has been registered with Geographical Indication (GI) on an application filed by Government of West Bengal. This only provides GI tag to the Banglar Rasogolla specific to West Bengal. Government of Odisha is in the process of obtaining GI for the Odishara Rasagolla which dates back to more than 800 years," the statement added.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had tweeted that her State has been granted GI tag for Rosogolla.
The tweet ignited the two and a half year old controversy between Odisha and West Bengal on origin of Rasagola.
In reaction to it Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera said that Odisha is in process of collecting all the facts to apply for the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Rasagolla and decision over the tag will be taken after submitting the application. He clarified that West Bengal has got GI tag for 'Banglar Rasogolla' which is in no way related to the Odisha Rasagola.
"An application is under process with the Science and Technology department, MSME department and Industry deparment of the State government and Odisha will get the GI tag after submitting the application. In the meantime 'Banglar Rasogolla' getting the tag should not be a matter of concern," said Behera.
While Odisha claims the mouth-watering delicacy was first served at the 12th-century Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, the Bengal government states rasagola was invented by Nabin Chandra Das in 1868.
Later in the day, Examiner of Trade Marks and GI, Geographical Indications Registry Chennai, Prashanth Kumar, put the controversy to rest.
“We have received an application for 'Banglar Rasogolla' and same has been registered with us as 'Banglar Rasogolla'. Till date we have not we have received any application or representation from the State of Odisha for registration of Odisha Rasagola. So everything will depend on the documents they would be submitting then it would be decided,” said Prashanth.
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