On July 30 2015, FOLLOWING OUR RASAGOLA DIBASA / RASGULLA DAY MAIDEN CELEBRATION ONLINE, #RASAGOLADIBASA TRENDED, AND THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES regarding RASGULLA "ORIGIN".
Though we had started the Rasgulla Day celebration on social media to #EndRasgullaDebate, yet even today, misinformation regarding Chhena and Rasgulla "invention" continues. Many erroneously believe- Rosogolla/Rasgulla belongs to Bengal; Khiramohana belongs to Odisha!
They are yet to know that- Rasagola and NOT Khirmohan/Khiramohana is the bhog/prasad on Niladri Bije of Rath Yatra.
Bhitarachha Mohapatra is the sebaka of the Shree Jagannatha Temple, who prepares Rasagola for the said ritual. Two years ago, when this writer asked him about Khiramohana, he expressed his ignorance and said that he hadn't even heard of the word!
Owing to the incorrect information available online, there are many myths about Khirmohan and Rasgulla. Here are a few-
Myth 1. 'Khiramohana' "WAS" offered to Shree Jagannatha in the Puri Temple.
Truth- Nothing called 'Khiramohana' was or ever has been a part of the dishes served in the Puri Temple.
Myth 2. Khiramohana was the original name of Rasagola offered in the Puri Temple.
Truth- As per centuries-old continuing tradition, servitors have been offering original 'Rasagola' (and NOT Khiramohana) in the Puri Temple.
Myth 3. The word 'Rasagola' was first coined and used in Bengal; Odisha copied it from Bengal.
Truth- The word 'Rasagola' finds mention in centuries-old texts like the Odia Ramayana dating to the 15th Century when Bengal's capital city didn't even exist! Rasagola's link with Odisha is as ancient as the Rath Yatra of Puri, Odisha.
Myth 4. Name 'Rasagola' started to be used instead of 'Khiramohana' in the Puri Temple.
Truth- Name 'Khiramohana' was never used in the Puri Temple. Niladri Bije is a continuing tradition from centuries. Each year on the last day of the Rath Yatra, Rasagolas are offered to pacify Goddess Lakshmi and to the deities.
Myth 5. Khiramohana is brown. Brown coloured sweet is offered in the Puri Temple.
Truth- The Rasagola offered on Niladri Bije, the last day of the Ratha Jatra, is white.