Bhubaneswar: In Odisha, sweetmeat rasagola is an integral part of all important occasions, be it Lord Jagannath calming down an upset Goddess Laxmi after Rath Yatra or breaking good news to family and friends. More than just 'cheese balls' as famous British chef William Harold described it, for Odias rasagola is interwoven into our tradition.
To celebrate rasagola itself and the Odianess of the sweet, Odisha Television Limited is hosting the first ever Rasagola Mahotsav on January 14 at the Municipality Kalyan Mandap at Chandrasekharpur in the capital city.
The unique celebration is a tribute to the sweet cherished so much in Odisha. Available in various avatars across the State, visitors can find at least six variants of rasagola at this festival to be hosted on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
Top rasagola makers and inventors of its varieties like confectioners from Salepur's Bikalananda Kar chain, Pahala area, Nimapada, Puri and so on will be demonstrating preparation of the sweet at Live Cooking Station. Trivia about the Odisha's rasagola connection will be shared in interesting ways. There will be Odia celebrities including film stars to perform at the programme as well as try different rasagolas while selfie zones will be an attraction for the young visitors at the event.
A major highlight at the Mahotsav will be the attempt to make the biggest rasagola of the world that is expected to be over 10 kgs.