Food in Puri

Puri is one of the historic cities of India. Being one of the four Dhaams (pilgrimage of Hindus) Puri has several specialties. Beginning from the culture and tradition of Puri, to the food of the holy Land, Puri is famous for the beaches and the sea food in the entire state. Mostly the traditional Odiya dishes are popular in Puri; both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food cuisines are being favored by the residents of the city. Puri is the place where once can find easily food without onion and garlic, as the visitors of Hindu religions from all over the globe prefer this types of cuisines only. However, there are several places that serve you with the typical Odiya food along with the seafood and non-vegetarian dishes. There is a wide range of local Odiya dishes that you will find in Puri but some of the most typical are mentioned below.

Chhencheda

One of the most famous non-vegetarian dishes of Puri, Chhencheda is a typical Odiya dish which is prepared by crushing the heads of the fishes and served with verities of vegetables. The fishes being used for the purpose are basicall the Rohu or even the Tailapia heads and are then cooked with vegetables like tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and several spices made by using different natural ingredients.

Alu-Potal Rasa

It is spicy curry with two major constituent of it being the Potatoes and the Potala (sharp Gourd). This is one of the molt loved vegetarian dishes by every class of people of Puri. This amazing dish is made up of the finest flavors of ginger, garlic, chili, and cumin with turmeric powder that add taste into the dish.

Khaja

Khaja is a sweet dish, famous in Puri and is also offered to Lord Jagannath. The basic ingredients of Khaja are the oil, sugar, and most important, the polished wheat flour. It is said that the Khaja were prepared before some 200 years ago near the places where the modern time southern part of Bihar is situated. Khaja is the sweet dish which is first fried in oil and then dipped in the sugar coatings.



The Khaja of Puri are being exported to various parts of the country and even to the foreign countries where these are being demanded the most.

The Mahaprasad

Mahaprasad is the food being offered to the deities of Lord Jagannath temple. Mahaprasad is being cooked in the special corner of the Temple, where there is a special kitchen located inside the temple area. The kitchen has the capacity of cooking food for lakhs of devotees visiting the temple of Lord Jagannath. The Mahaprasad is shared by the people following every religion irrespective of their caste and breed.


The food items of the Mahaprasad includes cooked rice (abahada), dal (dali), vegetable curry (dalma), varieties of vegetables (besara, mix vegetables etc) and sweet-dishes (kheer-paiece). The dry or the arid food items offered to God are most commonly made of jiggery, sugar, ghee, wheat flour, and milk. Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath is believed to be the element that consolidates the soul, purifies the sacraments and cleans the leaving soul for its voyage upwards. Anand Bazar is the market place inside the Jagannath mandir Premises where the Mahaprasad is being sold to the devotees.These Mahaprasad are also being sent to various parts of the state during several celebrations and ceremonies.