Odisha Rasagola Earns GI Tag #OdishaRasagola

Odisha has finally earned the GI tag for Odisha Rasagola on 29th July, 2019!

The GI Application for "Odisha Rasagola" was filed on February 23, 2018, by Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC), under the MSME Department of the Govt. of Odisha.  Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti, an association of Rasagola sweet-makers of Odisha, was the joint applicant.

Registration of GI Application No. 612 in respect of Odisha Rasagola falling in Class –29 and 30, makes Odisha Rasagola the latest entrant in the list of the GIs of India under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

With Odisha Rasagola GI tag, truth has triumphed. "Satyameva Jayate".

Note- Odisha had not submitted any application for Odisha Rasagola in 2015 unlike some biased and misinformed/misleading media-reports all these years.

“GI tag” came into focus in 2015 thanks to “Rasagola”. 

Earlier, few had even heard about “GI”. Even today, if “GI tag” is discussed, Rasagola is the top-of-mind recall.

On July 30, 2015, we celebrated the maiden #RasagolaDibasa i.e. Rasagola Day on social media to commemorate the Niladri Bije of the Nabakalebara Ratha Jatra. By sharing images, blog posts and messages on social media, we endeavoured to inform the world of the association of Rasagola with the glory and story of Odisha and connection with Niladri Bije, the last day of the Ratha Jatra. As Rasagola Dibasa trended, there were many news-reports, TV-debates and discussions. Committees were setup. Research-findings and facts about Rasagola came to light. Rasagola exists in 15th century Odia texts.

It has been terrible to spot fake news and misinformation regarding Rasagola.  The propaganda still continues.
However, with the Odisha Rasagola GI tag, the world must accept Rasagola's link with Odisha and the "origin" issue as well.

Rasagola means a lot to us. Apart from bhoga/prasad on Niladri Bije, the last day of the Ratha Jatra, Rasagola has a cultural and emotional association with Odias.
Rasagola is ubiquitous in Odisha - whether birth or death observance or festivals and celebrations.

To learn more about "Rasagola and Rasagola Dibasa", do check out my complete article published in the June-July 2019 Rath Yatra special edition of Odisha Review.

With Odisha Rasagola being the latest addition, Odisha now has 16 GI tags.

I am so proud to have supported Rasagola Dibasa and worked for documentation & facilitation of Odisha Rasagola GI. Thank you for all your help.
Rasagola is the fruit of our efforts and hardwork!

You can read about the other GIs of Odisha here.

You can read more posts about Rasagola here.