Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026Image Credit source: Getty Images
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026: Recently, the holy festival of Devasnan Purnima has been celebrated with great pomp on 29th June in Jagannath temples across the country including the holy Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha. After this grand beginning, now all the devotees are waiting for the biggest festival of the year. In the year 2026, the world famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is going to start from Thursday, July 16, which will conclude on July 24. This holy Puri Dham of Orissa is the same place where Mahaprabhu Jagannath is seated on the Ratna throne along with elder brother Balabhadra and beloved sister Subhadra. During the Rath Yatra, a huge crowd of lakhs of devotees gather here. But the most unique thing about this Dham is considered to be the Mahaprasad prepared in the huge kitchen here, before which even the rules of science bow down. Let us know about the unique secret of Lord Jagannath’s kitchen, where food is miraculously cooked in 7 earthen pots placed one above the other.
Mahaprasad is prepared in the world’s largest temple kitchen.
of Puri Jagannath Temple The kitchen is considered to be one of the largest temple kitchens in the world. Here Mahaprasad is prepared every day for not thousands but lakhs of devotees. The most special thing is that the food here is cooked in earthen pots on wooden stoves in a completely traditional manner. Hundreds of cooks and their assistants in the kitchen prepare the offerings to the Lord. Special care is taken of purity and traditions while preparing food.
Unique secret of 7 utensils
The biggest feature of the kitchen of Jagannath temple is that out of all the 240 stoves in the kitchen, on each stove, 7 earthen pots are kept one above the other i.e. like a pyramid. A wood fire keeps burning below and the food is cooked in all the utensils with the same steam and heat. According to religious belief, in this system the vessel placed at the top gets cooked first, after which the food in the vessels below is prepared. According to science, this process may seem unusual, but this temple tradition has been going on for centuries and devotees consider it a miracle and divine grace of Lord Jagannath.
Mahaprasad never falls short
Another special thing related to the kitchen of Jagannath temple is that a large number of devotees take Mahaprasad here every day, but it is believed that Mahaprasad never falls short nor does it go waste. It is said that the temple servants and cooks prepare food by estimating the number of devotees. Due to years of experience and tradition, the quantity of food is balanced in such a way that Mahaprasad is available as per the need.
Why is Mahaprasad considered so sacred?
The food prepared in the Jagannath temple is first offered to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. After this this Prasad is dedicated to Mother Vimala. Only then this food is called Mahaprasad. There is a religious belief that by consuming Mahaprasad, a person gets spiritual peace, virtue and blessings of Lord Jagannath. This is the reason why devotees coming from India and abroad consider it auspicious to receive Mahaprasad.
The kitchen arrangement is completely traditional
Today is the era of modern technology, but age-old traditions are still followed in the kitchen of Jagannath temple. Food is prepared in earthen pots, wooden stoves are used and the entire process is completed according to traditional rules.
Importance increases before Rath Yatra
Lakhs of devotees reach Puri during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. At this time the demand for Mahaprasad also increases significantly. Despite this, the temple kitchen continues to prepare Mahaprasad daily as per its tradition and God’s Prasad reaches the devotees.
Also read: Why does Lord Jagannath come out of the temple only once a year? Know that secret
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.
