Organic rice to be used in Abadha Mahaprasad at Puri Jagannath temple from upcoming Rath Yatra

The Abadha Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath and His siblings in Puri will soon be prepared using organically cultivated rice, official sources said on Sunday.

Also Read: Abadha Mahaprasad cooked with organic rice at Gundicha Temple in Puri

Beginning this Rath Yatra, initially the rice used for Kotha Bhog (temple kitchen offering) and subsequently Abadha Mahaprasad, which is being made available at Ananda Bazaar, will be prepared from organic rice.

Agriculture Department’s Principal Secretary, Arabinda Padhee, announced that from the coming festival, only organic rice will be used for preparing Kotha Bhog and Abadha Mahaprasad inside the Srimandir.

Every day, the 12th-century shrine requires about a quintal of rice for Kotha Bhog, which will now be sourced through the Balabhadra Organic Farming Mission.

Currently, organic paddy cultivation is underway in three districts—Cuttack (Niali), Koraput (Borigumma, Kotpad), and Bargarh (Padmapur). In Koraput, 60 hectares are under aromatic (Basna) rice and 20 hectares under Kalajeera variety, with 110 farmers engaged across Jeypore, Kotpad, and Borigumma blocks.

In Cuttack’s Niali region, traditional indigenous rice varieties will be used for the Jagannath temple offerings, bringing cheer among farmers. Many had previously struggled to sell their produce in paddy mandis, but now, with the temple procurement system, they expect rates higher than the State government’s minimum support price (MSP).

Meanwhile, the Kankadahad block in Dhenkanal has emerged as a hub for organic aromatic rice, with over 1,500 farmers cultivating around 1,100 hectares across 21 panchayats. Popular paddy varieties such as Badshah Bhog, Geetanjali, Ketaki Joha, Kalajeera, Tila Kasturi, and Indrani are being grown.

Last year, rice from 700 hectares was supplied to the Puri temple; this year, the area has expanded significantly. With increasing international demand — including exports to Dubai — farmers say more government support will help boost organic aromatic rice cultivation further.

The farmer will keep aside some of the harvested paddy for seed and send the rice prepared from the remaining paddy to the Lord’s temple.

“Initially, Kotha Bhog will be prepared from organic rice, and in subsequent phases, a portion of Mahaprasad will be prepared on a trial basis. If things go well with the Blessings of the Lord, the drive will be further intensified,” the Principal Secretary stated.