Jagannath Rath Yatra is a significant Hindu festival which is mostly celebrated in Odisha. Each year, the sacred town of Puri in Odisha bursts with spirituality, devotion, and festivity while it celebrates the Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India's largest and most ancient festivals. In this yearly procession, Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, travels from the holy Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
This occasion mesmerises thousands of followers from across the globe. This year, the festival will be observed on Friday. June 27, 2025. According to the traditional Hindu lunar calendar, the festival occurs on the second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Ashadha.
The Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri is famous not only for its magnificent deities and ancient rituals but also for its Mahaprasad—holy offerings steeped in tradition and history. Here's everything you need to know about Mahaprasad.
About Jagannath Puri's Mahaprasad
Lord Jagannath is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to legends, when Lord Krishna was young, he lifted the Govardhan Mountain for seven days and nights to protect the village from heavy rains sent by the rain god, Indra. It is believed that during this time, Lord Krishna didn't eat anything and devoted himself to the villagers.
Typically, it is thought that Lord Krishna has eight meals daily, with each meal consisting of various dishes. His adoptive mother, Yashoda, would cook eight new dishes for every meal, and the lord refrained from eating for seven days; this totals 56 dishes, which is why devotees present him with 56 bhog, also referred to as Chappan bhog, during this period.
Why is it called Mahaprasad?
The food is offered to Lord Jagannath inside the temple's premises, and then it is offered again to Goddess Bimala, the temple goddess. When the goddess accepts it, then it becomes Mahaprashad. Makhaan, Misri, and Kheer are some of the main dishes in the bhog, and the other dishes include Rasgulla, Rabri, Jeera laddu, Jalebi, Matheri, Malpua, Mohanbhog, Meethe chawal, Coconut water, and more.
