A lot of importance is given to the ‘Mahaprasad’ or the food cooked in the temple. This is because it is believed that while Lord Vishnu takes bath at Rameswaram, meditates at Badrinath, and retires at Dwarika, it is at Puri that he dines. The Mahaprasad is usually distributed to the devotees who are near the Ratnavedi at the time of the Bhoga, except the Prasad of the Gopal Ballav Bhog and Bhog Mandap Bhoga which are distributed in the Anabsar Pindi and the Bhoga Mandap respectively. The Mahaprasad is also sold in the Anand Bazar which is situated on the north-eastern corner of the outer enclosure of the temple.

The Mahaprasad is cooked by the Suaras (authorised cooks of the temple) in the temple kitchen. The cooking is done exclusively in earthen pots over fire wood. The temple kitchen has the capacity to cook for one lakh devotees per day. This is traditionally made to provide the Mahaprasada to the various Mathas and other institutions as well as private individuals, ... More

A lot of importance is given to the ‘Mahaprasad’ or the food cooked in the temple. This is because it is believed that while Lord Vishnu takes bath at Rameswaram, meditates at Badrinath, and retires at Dwarika, it is at Puri that he dines. The Mahaprasad is usually distributed to the devotees who are near the Ratnavedi at the time of the Bhoga, except the Prasad of the Gopal Ballav Bhog and Bhog Mandap Bhoga which are distributed in the Anabsar Pindi and the Bhoga Mandap respectively. The Mahaprasad is also sold in the Anand Bazar which is situated on the north-eastern corner of the outer enclosure of the temple.

The Mahaprasad is cooked by the Suaras (authorised cooks of the temple) in the temple kitchen. The cooking is done exclusively in earthen pots over fire wood. The temple kitchen has the capacity to cook for one lakh devotees per day. This is traditionally made to provide the Mahaprasada to the various Mathas and other institutions as well as private individuals, who wish eat the Bhoga as their principal meal. The steam-cooked food is carried to the Lord in slings of earthen pots and is first offered to Lord Jagannath and then to Goddess Bimala, after which it becomes the Mahaprasad. The items include rice, dal, vegetable curries, green-leaf preparations, a sour preparation commonly known as Khatta, sweet dishes, and dry confectionary items made of sugar, gur, wheat flour, ghee, milk and cheese. A particular type of dry Mahaprasad, known as ‘Khaja’, made of refined flour, sugar and ghee, is specially prepared for those pilgrims who wish to carry it back with them, as it stays fresh for days together. Mahaprasad made of dried rice, known as ‘Nirmalya’, is also used by devotees and tourists for different sacred occasions.

This Mahaprasad is normally cooked once a day, but on festive days, it is repeated according to the number of devotees wishing to partake of it. The market where the Bhogas are sold is known as 'Ananda Bazar'. On festive occasions, several thousand people visit the Ananda Bazar for their principal meal and eat the Mahaprasada there. People belonging to different castes and creed buy and eat the Mahaparasad together, without any discrimination. The local people of Puri depend upon this Mahaprasad to entertain their guests during social functions such as thread ceremony and weddings.