Finally, here came the news to restore the lost pride of Odisha on the status claim on Rasagola. On July 29, the government of India awarded Certificate of Registration of Geographical Indication to Odisha Rasagola. In simple, Odisha Rasagola won the GI tag that identifies it is unique and has its origin in Odisha.
Odisha felt like a loser in 2017 when West Bengal achieved the GI tag in November that year for Banglar Rasagulla. Odisha asserted its claim on Rasagola as its place of origin in 2015 but witnessed it went to its neighbor state in 2017.
However, the GI Registry of India had left scope for Odisha to stake a claim for GI status for its variant of Rasgola with due testimonies.
Following which, Odisha Small Industries Corporation Ltd (OSIC) and Utkal Mistanna Byabasaya Samiti applied for GI tag in February 2018 with researched documents.
The government of Odisha had assigned a committee to find out evidence in support of Odisha’s claim on Rasagola. And, they came up with documents stating that the practice of preparation and use of Rasagola has been there in rituals in Jagannath temple since the 15th century.
Rasagola is a syrupy and sweet dessert made of cheese, semolina, and sugar. It shapes round. Odisha and West Bengal have different variants of Rasagola.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have greeted the achievement.
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