Chhenapoda and Podapitha - Foods of Odisha

Chhenapoda is a delectable dessert of Odisha that is prepared by using Chhena (cottage-cheese).

More information about Chhenapoda in my previous posts here.

There is a lot of misinformation regarding Chhenapoda.

More awareness is needed.

What is the name of the following bhoga?

Source

Rasabali And Rasagola #RasagolaA2Z

Odisha has many sweets and treats.

Most people are yet to be introduced to the rich cuisine of Odisha.

Odisha has many sweets starting with the word- Rasa.

You can learn more about them in this post- Rasa, Rasakora, Rasabara, And Rasagola in Odia 

Do you know that Pages 7007-7020 of the Volume VI of Purnachandra Odia Bhasakosha (Purnachandra Odia Dictionary) list words starting with ‘Rasa’?
Rasa is related to Odisha's culture.
Rasa, Rasakora, Rasabara, Rasagola in Odia language -https://t.co/0g9pV6jRr3#RasagolaDibasa pic.twitter.com/SMVCcHJBsj

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) July 25, 2018

Rasabali and Rasagola are traditional sweets of Odisha that are prepared using cottage-cheese i.e. chhena. They have been offered as bhog/prasad for centuries at important temples namely- Shree Baladevjew Temple, Kendrapara, & Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri.

But, many are yet to taste these Odia sweets.

As this writer has been constantly stressing, we need to promote these by ensuring branding and uniform spelling all across-

Rasabali (not Rasavali or Rasaballi etc.) & Rasagola (not Rasogolla or Rosogolla etc.)

Rasgulla Day - Rasagola Dibasa Celebration #RasagolaA2Z

Day is called Dibasa in Odia. 

Rasagola Dibasa or Rasgulla Day means a day to celebrate Rasagola.

Did you know about Rasgulla Day?

The first celebration of a day for Rasgulla was done in Odisha, India.

No matter by what spelling it is referred to- Rasgulla Divas, Rasagola Diwas etc, the fact remains that Odisha not only invented the sweet, but it also has been celebrating a day for Rasgulla.

No one really knows how old is the celebration of "Niladri Bije", the last day of the Ratha Jatra, when Rasagola is traditionally offered to Maa Lakshmi and Shree Jagannatha at the Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri. If you ask an average Odia about "Rasagola Day", they will tell you about Niladri Bije.

It is said- "Ratha Jatra jebethu, Rasagola sebethu." - Rasagola is as old as the Ratha Jatra.

Niladri Bije is celebrated each year on-ground and as a continuing tradition from many centuries in the Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri, and in many other religious places like mathas and temples.

There was a need to propose and initiate celebration of Rasagola Dibasa on social media & online & also to join in the offline Niladri Bije celebrations to change wrong perceptions-

Myth 1. Rasgulla was invented in Bengal. 

Reality- Odisha is the birthplace of Rasgulla

Myth 2. All Chhena sweets are associated only with Bengal. 

Reality - Odisha has been the pioneer of Chhena sweets and other sweets.

Myth 3. Portuguese taught Indians how to prepare Cottage-Cheese i.e. Chhena. 

Reality of Cottage-Cheese or Chhena

Cottage-Cheese, Chhena, And Comments About Rasgulla #RasagolaA2Z

Cottage-cheese or Chhena, a milk product, is the main ingredient required to produce the 'King of Sweets"- Rasagola or Rasgulla.

Milk is split or curdled to create Chhena.

Odisha earned the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Odisha Rasagola on 29 July, 2019.

However, a false narrative has been set. The following myths are still being propagated-

Myth 1. Curdled milk or Chhena is "impure" and hence "taboo" and cannot be offered to God.

Myth 2. Chhena is not offered in any temple as there are restrictions.

Blatant Lies And Biased Reports About Rasgulla Invention #RasagolaA2Z

Blatant lies have been and are still being peddled about Rasgulla and "Bengali invention".

Do you know the history of this "king of sweets"?

Your version of the story will depend on your source of information.

Check out this video for the special "Rasgulla History" report by Zee News. 

Here is another report by Zee News about Rasgulla's Birthplace.

Money power and propaganda can succeed in creating such fake stories.

These reports claim that Bengal is the birthplace of Rasgulla! They are also claiming Rasmalai dish was invented in Bengal!

Though both these reports are of March 2021, they don't even mention that Odisha has earned the Odisha Rasagola GI in 2019. Zee News has made it look that only Bengal is synonymous with Rasgulla!

Why is wrong news report regarding #Rasgulla again being shown on @ZeeTV @ZeeNews?
Why false info @zeenewseditor @ZeeNewsSudhir? #Rasagola is a traditional Odia dessert with cultural & historical link with Shree Jagannatha #Puri #Odisha@sudhirchaudhary, pl share correct info🙏

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) March 4, 2021

What you know has been fed by either media or people you know, who in turn are fed by media and people they know! 

This is a bad case of 'Chinese Whispers'. One media house publishes a false or misleading report with vested interests, and others may reuse the same biased report & continue the trend.

Also, of money and muscle power. Truth is suppressed by the so-called "superior intellectual and cultural prowess". Superior people must not steal others credit and identity. 

This is a glaring case of cultural appropriation.

A To Z of Rasagola - April 1 #UtkalDivas #RasagolaA2Z

When you hear the word- Rasagola or Rasgulla, what comes to your mind?

Most people in India would recognize this "King of Sweets".

However, those who have not heard about it or tasted it, may not realize what they have been missing. 

"The proof of the Rasagola is in the eating."

Today is April 1st- celebrated as- Utkal Divas / Utkala Dibasa i.e. Odisha Day.

In Odisha, we have multiple reasons to celebrate many festivities and every occasion with Rasagola - be it birthday, anniversary, grihapravesh, thread-ceremony...even death ceremony.

Just eat and celebrate sweetness with Rasagola, and all is well.

All is well till someone (read an Odia) tries to bring out the truth about Rasagola - that Odisha is the birthplace of Rasagola! That's when all either oppose or say that this is inconsequential! 

Trade Secret

The owner was shocked to see her sweet-shop. 

What was all the mess?

Who had broken into her shop?

PHOTO PROMPT - Sandra Crook

Her locker had been stolen! 

No, it did not have any cash.

It had something more valuable- 

Kendrapara Rasabali

Rasabali is a traditional sweet of Odisha that is prepared using  chhena i.e. cottage-cheese and thickened sweetened milk. 

This sweet is being offered everyday for the past several centuries at the Baladevjew Temple at Kendrapara district of Odisha. 

It is also one of the bhoga of the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha.

Rasabali is a very popular sweet dish and has many fans.

Odisha Rasagola - Sweet Treat Of Odisha #OdishaGI #KnowYourGI #GIsofIndia

Odisha Rasagola earned the Geographical Indication (GI) tag on July 29, 2019.

This news did not get the deserving attention by many national newspapers and some media channels.
Even now there is misleading and fake news regarding Rasgulla- Misinformation About Rasagola Still Continues.
Thus, many are not aware of this GI tag of Odisha.

How can the facts come to light when there is propaganda or when they are suppressed?

ODISHA NEVER "LOST" #Rasgulla #GITag.

W.Bengal applied for "Banglar Rasogolla"on 18Sep'15; GI on 14Nov'17.

Bengal's Rosogolla"origin"-1868-150yrs old.

Odisha hadn't applied.

Odisha applied for "Odisha Rasagola"on 23Feb'18; GI on 29Jul'19.#OdishaRasagola centuries-old #RathYatra pic.twitter.com/HZL1cJBrtU

— Dr. Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) August 5, 2019

The spelling of Odisha Rasagola has the spelling "Odisha" as the application was submitted in 2019.
However, "Orissa Ikat" and "Orissa Pattachitra" have the old spelling "Orissa" as they were registered before Orissa state's name change to Odisha.
You can read more here- Odisha Geographical Indications And Spellings

'Rasa', Rasakora, Rasabara And Rasagola in Odia #AToZChallenge

The word ‘Rasa’ is related to Odisha's culture. 

'Rasa' in Odia
The Odia word 'Rasa' means 'juice', 'relish', 'flavour' or 'savour'. ‘Rasa’ refers to the 'taste of something'. 
In Odisha, 'Rasa' is intrinsically linked and present in so many spheres- food, literature, geographical places, conversations...

Many Odia epics like Rasabinod, Rasakallolla and Rasakalpalata etc have 'Rasa' in their names.

In the tradition and food culture of Odisha, the names of many dishes and sweetmeats like Rasabara, Rasakora, Rasakhai, Rasabali, Rasaphena, Rasmalai, Rasakadamba, Rasaladu, Rasagola etc. start with the word ‘Rasa’. These have been traditionally prepared from Chhena (cottage-cheese) and other ingredients from centuries.

Source

Pages 7007-7020 of the Volume VI of Purnachandra Odia Bhasakosha (Purnachandra Odia Dictionary) list words starting with ‘Rasa’. This dictionary, with 1,85,000 words and their meanings in four languages, is the result of three decades of dedicated work by Gopal Chandra Praharaj (1874-1945).

"Battle" Over Rasgulla - Misleading Media Information

"Banglar Rasogolla" was "invented" in Bengal in 1868.
West Bengal had filed an application and has received a certificate for "Banglar Rasogolla" today.

Source: ipindia.nic.in

Geographical Indications (GI) Registry is a Quasi Judicial Authority. This impartial authority grants GI status on the basis of details and supporting documents.
Application Number- 533 refers to "Banglar Rasogolla".
It has been available from 14th July 2017.
Today, on 14th November 2017, West Bengal has got the GI certificate for "Banglar Rasogolla".

It may be noted that Odisha Govt. is yet to file any application for Rasagola.
There is a mind-boggling choice as many varieties of Rasagola are available in Odisha. Each region has its unique preparation and specialty e.g. Pahala, Salepur, Jatni, Kukudakhandi, Nuapatna etc.

Celebration of Rasagola Day

Today is July 30- celebrated as International Day of Friendship. It was declared by the General Assembly of United Nations in 2011.

Last year in 2015, we had started our celebration of the Rasgulla Day or Rasagola Day i.e. #RasagolaDibasa on this very date July 30th as it happened to be 'Niladri Bije' - the last day of the Rath Yatra. 

Rasagolas- Yummy Sweets that originated in Odisha

Many don't know about Niladri Bije- this centuries-old tradition of the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, India where Lord Jagannath offers His wife, Maa Lakshmi Rasagolas and then only He is granted entry inside the Temple after He arrives from His journey with His siblings!

Niladri Bije is the day when devotees offer Rasagolas to Lord Jagannath.

This year, Niladri Bije was on July 17th and we celebrated the 2nd Rasagola Day with great happiness.

My SandArt at PuriBeach in Odisha for #RasagolaDibasa . It is celebrated on NiladriBije of Lord #Jagannath pic.twitter.com/BDCcScsavL

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) July 16, 2016

15 FAQs about Rasagola Day

July 17th 2016 was a Sunday. Sundays are reserved for Raahgiri in some Indian cities like Bhubaneswar. On Raahgiri Sundays, a fixed stretch of road is cordoned off and kept traffic-free. Public is free to reclaim the street & walk, cycle, skate, paint, exercise, sing, dance & participate in Raahgiri events that are held on that particular road.

Chhenapoda - Uncommon Food

The state of Odisha in India boasts of many unique dishes. Chhenapoda is such an uncommon food that interests the foodie in me. 
In Odia language, Chhena means ‘cottage cheese’ and Poda means ‘burnt’. Chhenapoda literally means ‘burnt cheese’. When one thinks of home-made soft cottage cheese, one can never think such an uncommon dish can be prepared out of it, unless one has tasted Chhenapoda and the other similar uncommon foods. While Chhenapoda is available in many places in Odisha, it is yet to have a national presence and identity unlike the Rasagola that was born in Odisha too and has links with Lord Jagannath, Maa Lakshmi & the Puri Temple, but is very famous both in India and abroad.

Chhenapoda looks like a soft, caramelized pudding or cake with brownish black covering. Don’t go by its burnt looks as it tastes divine. It was first created in the twentieth century by inventors Bidyadhar Sahu and his son Sudarshan Sahu in Nayagarh, Odisha. Their experiment, to put the excess chhena to use, worked. It became popular as many places in Odisha followed their recipe and process. It is baked with coal. These days, Chhenapoda is even prepared at homes by using the modern gadgets- microwave, oven & pressure-cooker etc.

Ingredients for the Chhenapoda:

For the Chhena or Cottage Cheese:

1.5 Litres milk

Curd, or Whey

For the Chhenapoda:

2 cups Chhena or Cottage Cheese

2 cups Sugar powdered

4 tbsp Semolina/Sooji

4 Cardamoms powdered

1 tbsp Cashew nuts

1 tbsp Raisins

1 tbsp Sugar for Caramel

2 tbsp Ghee

Preparation of Chhena:

Boil milk. When it starts boiling, simmer and add curd or whey. Milk curdles and Chhena separates. Boil for a minute and switch off the flame. Sieve the Chhena through a strainer. Tie in a dhoti or gamuchha cloth and let the water drain out.

Preparation of Caramel:

Melt Ghee on a low flame, add the sugar and twirl the pan around to spread the Caramel evenly.

Method of Preparation of the Chhenapoda:

Knead the Chhena and Semolina (added to bind the dough.)

Add the Sugar, powdered Cardamom, Raisins & Cashew-nuts to the mashed Chhena. Knead them all together. Place the mixture on the Caramel, and bake. 

This uncommon soft food is the result. 

Slice and serve it hot or cold & eat!

I feel Chhenapoda needs to graduate from being uncommon to being available everywhere. An enhanced shelf-life will help. This traditional cake must be the first choice on birthdays, anniversaries and other such special occasions. With its great taste, Chhenapoda has a great potential to entice all and earn the adulation and fame it deserves.

I went on a trip down the memory lane recollecting uncommon foods thanks to the culinary stars, Vikas & Vir, talking about their #Foodventures. 

Have you ever tried Chhenapoda? Which is the uncommon food that you have experienced? Please share your views in the comments below.

Rasagola Day

Odisha is an Eastern state of India.

Despite it being 'the Soul of Incredible India', Odisha is yet to get credit for so many things- like the Rasagola.

Rasgulla/Rasagolla/Rasagola...spell it in anyway, prepare it in any shape or size or have it in any part of the world, the fact is that Odisha is the birthplace of the Rasagola.

There are many variations and innovations that are found in different parts of India. However, the most amazing, yummiest, finest, softest and delicious Rasagolas are found in Odisha. One has to come to Odisha and get the taste of mouthwatering varieties of Rasagolas.

In my post Kaleidoscopic Indian Culture, I had compared Indian culture with Rasagola and had mentioned the great varieties of Rasagolas as follows:

Rasagola

There were many comments:

Blog Comment

Blog Comment

How many of us know that Rasagolas have been offered for centuries in the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri in Odisha? 

Mango Vermicelli Kheer

Both my daughter & I love desserts; desserts fill us with glee!

She loves Kheer (Indian dessert- sweet Pudding) & Custard also like me!

One day, I had an idea- a dish that would be a happy combination! 

I added Mango Custard powder to my Vermicelli Kheer preparation!

My family loved my innovative Mango Vermicelli Kheer dish!

Now this dish appears often on our dining-table as per majority's wish!

On popular demand, here's the recipe!