Chef Ranveer Brar appointed Odisha Brand Ambassador: What makes Odisha's Temple Cuisine so sacred and special

Odia cuisine is known for its simplicity, flavour, and rich cultural connection. Now, to reach a wider audience, the Odisha government has appointed celebrity chef Ranveer Brar as the the brand ambassador for promoting Odia cuisine. According to reports, the state government also decided to choose MasterChef India finalists Anju and Manju, as well as Season 6 winner Abinas Nayak, to promote traditional Odia food. Reportedly, the state’s Tourism Department signed a formal agreement regarding this in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during the recent Odia Paksha celebrations.

Elated to be representing the rich culinary heritage of Odisha, he emphasised how Odia food, including the sacred Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath, should be known across the world. Moreover, the chef also asked for support from the people of Odisha, both digitally and in real life.

According to the Odia Tourism official website, the food offered to Lord Jagannath in Puri is known as the Mahaprasad. The Mahaprasad is a complete meal that includes rice, dal, vegetables, khichdi, and sweets, all cooked in earthen pots over firewood. According to Hindu mythology Lord Vishnu meditates in Badrinath, gets dressed at Dwarka, has his lunch at Puri and retires for the night at Rameswaram. (Image: Instagram/amara__odisha)

According to legends, Mahaprasad is cooked in a unique way, where earthen pots are kept on top of the other over the burner. The pot at the top cooks first and it is all done over firewood every day. It is considered sacred and is shared among devotees without any distinction of caste or status, symbolizing equality and community. A specific part of the Mahaprasad is called Abhada, which refers to the main meal offering consisting of rice, dal, mixed vegetable curries, and khatta (a tangy preparation). It is simple, wholesome, and free from onion and garlic, staying true to temple cooking traditions. This is also said to be the world's largest community kitchen, spread over 15,000 sq ft with 32 rooms and over 270+ earthen ovens, serving more than 100,000 devotees daily. According to online reports, the kitchen employs over 600 cooks and 400 assistants to prepare the traditional 56 dishes called Mahaprasad or Chhapan Bhog. The temple has two wells that are used for supplying water to the kitchen. These are named Ganga and Jamuna and both are near the temple. (Image: Instagram/hyangla_bibi)

The main items of the Mahaprasad include sadha anna (rice), kanika (rice, ghee, and sugar), dahi pakhal (curd, rice and water), and ada pakhal (rice, ginger, and water) to name a few. (Image: Instagram/ap_fooddiaries)