Chappan Bhog for Lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra
TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/16/2018 5:41:00 PM
National
Mayapur, Jul 16: As per scriptures Jagannath Mahaprasad is so pure that whoever partakes it is sanctified and is bestowed with the boon of liberation. In Puri everyday 56 food items are offered to Jagannath also known as ''Chappan Bhog'.
Hence in common lingo Lord Jagannath is also referred as the 'Eating God'. A lot of impetus is given to the food that is being served to Lord Jagannath at ISKCON Mayapur Gundicha temple, where Lord Jagannath along with His siblings – Baladev and Subadhra is residing for 9 days as a part of Rath Yatra festivities till the Ulta Rath Yatra on July 22. Devotees enthusiastically toil hard to prepare multiple variety of sumptuous delicacies for the pleasure of the Lord.
'Jagannath is Lord of entire universe so at ISKCON, He savours not only Indian recipes but dishes like Pizza, Pasta Lasagne by Italian devotees, fruit cakes, pastries, flapjacks by American devotees and fried noodles, vegetable dumplings, Chow Mein prepared by Chinese devotees,' Subroto Das, media spokesperson of ISKCON Mayapur said today.
In the main kitchen as many as 45 devotees, both males and females, under the guidance of a kitchen head engage night and day to prepare the Maha Prasad. Lord Jagannath is served food 6 times a day-- 4.00 am, 8.00 am, 12.00 noon also called as Raj Bhoga , 4.00 pm , 7.45 pm and 8.30 pm as Sayan bhog ( before sleep).
The cooks and helpers follow a strict routine before entering the cooking area. They get up early, attend “Mangal Arti” followed by 25,000 times chanting the Mahamantra on beads, this process helps the devotees to purify themselves from inside, believes Nitai Naresh Das, kitchen in-charge. He also is very particular of hygiene being maintained inside the kitchen premises.
The morning bhog starts with several types of mouth-watering sweets like rasamalai , barfi, sandesh , halwa, masala puffed rice along with poori and a variety of juices. The Raj Bhog is considered to be the most important offering. As many as 56 items or Chappan Bhog are prepared which include 5 types of dal, 7-8 varieties of rice, 24 kinds of sabzi preparations, 7 -8 types of pakoras to name a few.
Head cook Gaur Hari Das said, 'Jagannath has an insatiable sweet tooth.' So he takes special care to prepare 12-15 kinds of sweets like Rasagolla, Gulabjamun, sweet rice, pati sapta, laddu, milk cake, varieties of peetas, malpoa for the afternoon lunch of the Lord. Other than this, the menu for the day also includes continental dishes like custard and coconut cake which become a part of evening appetite. Night offerings are generally kept light. Each day “khir” becomes the last offering.
On an average 500 people, which includes special guests, pilgrims and devotees, honour the MahaPrasad of Jagannath daily at Prabhupad Ghat on the banks of Ganga, said Das.