Chhapan Bhog

Chappan Bhog refers to the 56 different food dishes offered to Lord Jagannath, the lotus-eyed deity, at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri. The term "bhog" denotes the food offerings made to the gods. This elaborate daily offering to Lord Jagannath consists of 56 diverse items, presented first to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra before being offered to Maa Bimala. The food that remains after the divine acceptance, known as "Mahaprasad," is considered sacred and is distributed among the devotees. According to the "Skanda Purana," Lord Jagannath purifies his devotees by allowing them to partake in his Mahaprasad and worship him.

The temple kitchen, reputed to be the largest in the world, can cook for up to one lakh (100,000) people daily. Mahaprasad is prepared in earthen pots using firewood. The kitchen has 240 fireplaces and 600 cooks who prepare various rice dishes, vegetables, and sweets for the deities. The fire used in cooking is lit from the Homa sacrificial fire. Mahaprasad is so sacred that it is believed anyone can eat from a pot already used by someone else without any defilement. This food does not spoil easily and remains hot for a long time. The Mahaprasad is consumed by people of all castes and creeds without discrimination.

There are six sets of offerings made throughout different meal times:

1. Gopala Vallabha Bhoga (8:30 AM)
2. Sakala Dhupa (10:00 AM)
3. Bhoga Mandapa Bhoga (11:00 AM)
4. Madhyanha Dhupa (12:30 PM to 1:00 PM)
5. Sandhya Dhupa (7:00 PM to 8:00 PM)
6. Bada Srungara Bhoga (11:00 PM)

List of the 56 Dishes of Chappan Bhog

  • Rice Dishes
    1. Sadha Anna - Simple rice cooked in water.
    2. Dahi Pakhala - Water rice mixed with curd.
    3. Kanika - Flavored rice with ghee and sugar.
    4. Thali Khichudi - Yellow rice mixed with lentil, ghee, and sugar.
    5. Ada Pakhala - Water rice with grated ginger.
    6. Ghea Anna - Rice mixed with ghee.
    7. Mitha Pakhala - Water rice mixed with sugar.
    8. Odia Pakhala - Water rice mixed with ghee, lemon, and salt.
    9. Khecudi - Rice mixed with lentil.
  • Sweet Dishes
    1. Khaja - Layered fritters soaked in sugar syrup.
    2. Gaja - Fried sweet dish made of wheat soaked in sugar syrup.
    3. Ladu - Round-shaped sweet made with flour, sugar, and ghee.
    4. Jeera Ladu - Ladoo prepared with cumin seeds, lemon juice, sugar, and salt.
    5. Magaja Ladu - Ladoo made with gram flour, ghee, milk, and sugar.
    6. Mathapuli - Sweet made of ghee, beans ground into a thick paste, and ginger.
    7. Khuruma - Made of sugar, wheat, ghee, and salt.
    8. Jagannath Ballav - Made of wheat, sugar, and ghee, black in color.
    9. Kakara - Made of ghee, sugar, grated coconut, and wheat.
    10. Luni Khuruma - Salty biscuit made of ghee, wheat, and salt.
    11. Marichi Ladu - Ladoo made with wheat and sugar.
    12. Suar Pitha - Made of wheat and ghee.
    13. Chadai Lada - Sweet made of wheat, ghee, and sugar.
    14. Jhilli - Made of rice flour, ghee, and sugar.
    15. Kanti - Made of rice flour and ghee.
    16. Manda - Cake made of rice, coconut, jaggery, cheese, and ghee.
    17. Amalu - Made of wheat, sugar, and ghee.
    18. Puri - Deep-fried bread made of flour and ghee.
    19. Luchi - Pancake-like item made of maida and ghee, deep-fried.
    20. Dahi Bara - Made of Urad dal, deep-fried, and dipped in curd.
    21. Bara - Fried item made with Urad dal and ghee.
    22. Arisa - Flat cake made of rice flour, sugar, and ghee.
    23. Tripuri - Another flat cake made of rice flour, sugar, and ghee.
    24. Rosapaik - Cake made with wheat and ghee.
  • Milk Preparations
    1. Khiri - Dessert made of milk, sugar, and rice.
    2. Papudi - Made from the cream of milk.
    3. Khua - Custard-like dessert made from slowly boiled milk.
    4. Rasabali - Sweet dish made of milk, sugar, and wheat.
    5. Tadia - Traditional cuisine made of fresh cheese, sugar, and ghee.
    6. Chhena Khai - Made of fresh cheese, milk, and sugar.
    7. Bapudi Khaja - Made from the cream of milk, sugar, and ghee.
    8. Khua Manda - Made of milk, wheat, and ghee.
    9. Sarapulli - Famous milk dish, difficult to prepare, made of pure milk boiled for hours.
  • Dal & Curries
    1. Biri Dali - Simple dal made of Urad dal.
    2. Chana Dali - Simple dal made of chana.
    3. Mitha Dali - Thick dal made from arhar dal, sweet in taste.
    4. Muga Dali - Made with green gram.
    5. Dalama - Typical Odia dish combining dal and vegetables like eggplant, pumpkin, bean, sweet potato, coconut, and dried root vegetable with asafoetida.
    6. Raita - Yogurt dish with radish, cucumber, salt, and curd.
    7. Besar - Vegetable curry with coconut and mustard paste.
    8. Saga - Dish made with leafy greens like spinach, seasoned with garlic.
    9. Baigini - Fried item made with eggplants.
    10. Goti Baigana - Made of small eggplants in coconut sauce.
    11. Khata - Sour dish made with cooked mango, apple, and grape.
    12. Mahura - Mixed vegetable curry with basic ingredients like pumpkin, taro, and sweet potato.
    13. Pita - Made with fried neem tree flowers.
    14. Potala Rasa - Spicy gravy dish made with pointed gourd and coconut milk.

These 56 dishes are offered to Lord Jagannath, highlighting the devotion and culinary diversity of the Puri Temple traditions. Each dish is meticulously prepared under the supervision of Goddess Laxmi, ensuring it is made with utmost care and devotion.