From mother's kitchen
SARAT CHANDRA
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Being the spouse of Lord Jagannath, Goddess Laksmi cooks the dishes for Him everyday.
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DIVINE PREPARATIONS Some of the bhog dishes.
The term "religious institution" may be a misnomer for the Puri temple. There is a unique practice being followed in the temple, of cooking rice in nine pots at the same time. The rice ovens too are different. Such objects and practices do have cultural significance.
Similarly the number of pure vegetarian dishes cooked in the temple kitchen is wide ranging. The number of dishes exceeds 100. Throughout the year the dishes are cooked and offered to the Triad on the temple pedestal — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
But during the winter season, for a month (from Dhanu Sankranti to Makara Sankranti, from November 16 to January 14) the food items in the temple, known as Mahaprasad, becomes more attractive and sought after. Even on an average day, the food items offered are quite large. While rice is the main item dal and its variation dalma are also offered in huge quantities. As is known, Dalma is prepared by adding certain vegetables (such as brinjal, yam, lentil etc) in dal. Dalmas of various flavours are also prepared. Different varieties of curry (known as besara, raita) are also prepared. Fried items also is done — out of lentils (kadali) and leaf (saae) — but in limited quantities.
During this period food items that are added to the existing offerings are some cakes made of blackgram. Preparations based on curd are included. To cite an example apples, oranges, grapes are included in the curd and in another dish carrots are mixed.
A remarkable feature of this period is that meal items (such as rice, dal, curry) are available early. This early day meal is known as "Pahali Bhoga" which is offered to the deities soon after the breakfast time. There is a reason offered for this early meal.
Being spouse of Lord Jagannath, Goddess Laksmi cooks the dishes for Him everyday. But during this period she is absent — goes to Her mythical parents. So cooking is supposedly done by Joshoda, the Lord's mother. Hence Pahali Bhoga is hallowed by a mother's affection.
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