Puri, Jul 23: Among the many unique traditions associated with Lord Jagannath, the offering of Poda Pitha during Bahuda Yatra, the return journey of the deities from the Gundicha Temple, remains one of the most cherished rituals. Though the delicacy is called Poda Pitha (literally "burnt cake"), it is not baked or roasted. Instead, it is carefully steam-cooked or fried, following centuries-old temple traditions.

According to Jagannath tradition, Lord Jagannath's rituals are deeply rooted in human emotions and family customs. During Bahuda Yatra, the chariots halt near the Mausi Maa Temple, where the deities are offered the special Poda Pitha prepared exclusively for this occasion. Unlike the daily offerings made at the Jagannath Temple, this sacred delicacy is offered only once a year.

Preparing the temple's Poda Pitha is a meticulous process that takes nearly two days. It is made using wheat flour, fresh cottage cheese, pure indigenous cow ghee, raisins, cloves, cardamom and other aromatic ingredients.

Instead of baking, the mixture is slowly steamed for seven to eight hours in a traditional earthen vessel over a wood-fired stove using specially designed moulds. After cooling, the cake is cut into pieces and lightly fried in pure cow ghee before it becomes fit to be offered as Naivedya. The sacred cake remains fresh for nearly a week.

The responsibility of preparing the offering is currently carried out by Biswanath Mishra, the chief priest of the Mausi Maa Temple. Before him, the service was performed by his uncle Raghunath Das, making it a family tradition passed down through generations.

Biswanath, who has been associated with this service for nearly 30 years, says preparing the sacred offering for Lord Jagannath is the greatest blessing of his life and a privilege earned through divine grace.

According to temple lore, Mausi Maa is believed to be the incarnation of Queen Kaikeyi from the Treta Yuga and Mother Yashoda from the Dwapara Yuga. It is believed that Lord Rama blessed Kaikeyi to receive his motherly affection again in future incarnations. As a result, in Kaliyuga, Mausi Maa lovingly offers Poda Pitha to Lord Jagannath, symbolising the eternal bond between a mother and her beloved child.

The annual ritual continues to be one of the most heartwarming and distinctive traditions of the Jagannath culture, reflecting the deity's deeply human and affectionate relationship with his devotees.