As the grand Rath Yatra festival draws to a close, the sacred town of Puri prepares for the final and most enchanting ritual,'Niladri Bije' which marks the return of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra to the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple. This year, the Niladri Bije ritual will take place on Tuesday night, symbolizing the culmination of the deities’ 12-day sojourn at the Gundicha Temple.

Niladri Bije is the ritual that marks the end of the Rath Yatra festival, one of the most significant religious events in Odisha. During this ceremony, the sibling deities return from their majestic chariots to the Ratna Singhasana (bejewelled throne) inside the Srimandir. The procession, called Goti Pahandi, involves the deities being carried back one after another. In Goti Pahandi, the next deity only begins moving after the preceding deity is placed on the throne, creating a divine sequence of entry. This year, the Goti Pahandi will be held between 4 PM and 10 PM, drawing lakhs of devotees to witness the sacred spectacle.

A highlight of Niladri Bije is the heartwarming Rasagola ritual involving Lord Jagannath and Goddess Lakshmi. According to tradition, Goddess Lakshmi, the divine consort of Lord Jagannath, was left behind in the Srimandir during the Rath Yatra as the Lord and His siblings journeyed to the Gundicha Temple. Upon His return, Lakshmi expresses her displeasure and refuses to open the Jaya Vijaya Dwara (main gate of the temple) for Him.

In a gesture of reconciliation, Lord Jagannath offers Rasagola, the iconic sweet made from cottage cheese (chhena), to pacify Her anger. Once appeased, Goddess Lakshmi allows the Lord to enter the temple. This symbolic act of reunion signifies harmony and divine love, as Lord Jagannath is seated beside Goddess Lakshmi before ascending the Ratna Singhasana. This ritual underscores the deep spiritual and cultural significance of Niladri Bije in Odisha’s heritage.

The tradition of offering Rasagola to Goddess Lakshmi is not a recent practice. Historical references can be traced back to the 15th-century Odia Ramayana, written by Balaram Das. This version, also called Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana, mentions the offering of Rasagola at Puri’s Jagannath Temple, highlighting the sweet’s ancient connection to Odia culture. As per the Record of Rights of Srimandir, this offering is performed by the Bhitarachha Sebakas, the temple servitors entrusted with the responsibility of the inner sanctum rituals.

Since 2015, Odisha has celebrated Rasagola Dibasa on Niladri Bije day to promote awareness about the sweet’s origin and its historic association with Lord Jagannath. The initiative aims to highlight the centuries-old tradition and Odisha’s rich culinary and spiritual heritage.