Today (July 23), Odisha is celebrating Rasagola Dibas. This is for the seventh year in succession, that Rasagola Dibas is being observed in Odisha to celebrate the sweet delicacy and share Odisha Rasagola's story and glory.
But what is the significance of this day and its relation with Rasagola you may be thinking. Today marks the last day of Ratha Jatra festival in which Goddess Laxmi is offered the sweet delicacy of Rasagola as bhog as part of the age old Niladri Bije rituals. Niladri Bije is a centuries-old custom practiced in Puri Srimandir, which marks the entry of the Holy Trinity into the temple after their 9-day sojourn at their aunt’s place. Lord Jagannath and His siblings are welcomed into the Puri Srimandir with the sweet syrupy Rasagola delight. It is believed that Goddess Mahalaxmi is upset with her husband Lord Jagannath and his journey to aunt's place with siblings without her assent.
Left behind in Srimandir, an angry Goddess Laxmi locks the entrance of the temple. According to traditional practices, Lord Jagannath is allowed to enter the temple only after he is able to please and pacify Goddess Laxmi by offering Rasagola to her. Rasagola Dibas was first celebrated in the year 2015. Every year, Rasagola Dibas is observed on the occasion of Lord Jagannath's Niladri Bije, which marks the return of the Holy Trinity to the temple after annual Rath Jatra. This date varies annually as per the Odia Calendar. Apart from Puri, a variant of the sweet available in the town of Pahal, located between the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar is also popular across the state.