Khaja - Puri Mahaprasad And Popular Sweet Of Odisha

Khaja is a multi-layered and crispy sweet. It is a very popular sweet of Odisha. It is also one of the mahaprasad (bhoga i.e. offering) that is offered to Lord Jagannath.
Made of maida (flour) and dipped in sugar syrup, Khaja is a sweet treat.





Visitors to the Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, are aware of Khaja as they carry packets of Khaja back with them to their homes. Khaja is comparatively convenient to carry as it is a dry item, unlike many of the other popular syrupy sweets of Odisha like the Rasagola that need special care and packaging.

In my Open Letter to the Odisha State Govt in January 2018, apart from Rasagola, I had shared about Khaja too.

Bihar had applied for the GI application earlier and it earned the GI tag for "Silao Khaja" in December 2018. Silao is a place in the Nalanda district of Bihar where Silao Khaja is made. Apart from the local population, it is popular with the tourists who visit the Buddhist heritage sites there. Local water and climate has an impact on the geographical indications.

It may be noted that Khaja is being prepared as per tradition and served in Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, for centuries. Puri Khaja has its own unique historical, cultural and culinary link.

Many people, the victims of misleading information and fake news, wrongly believe that Odisha has lost the "battle" for Rasagola and Khaja as other states i.e. West Bengal and Bihar have got the GI tags for "Banglar Rasogolla" and "Silao Khaja" respectively. 

If the Khaja Association of Puri, Odisha, submits its GI application in this regard, it will surely be considered by the GI Registry just like the applications of many varieties of tea and coffee from different states that have earned different GI tags.

Have you tasted Khaja? Do share in the comments below.

K for- Khaja
I am blogging related to Odisha, India for the #AtoZChallenge this year.

Do check out my other #A2Z posts here.