Puri is one of the four cardinal points of pilgrimage for the Hindus. These four cardinal points are held in high reverence among the Hindus as it is believed that Lord Vishnu Himself graces these four places with His presence. It is believed that while He takes His bath in Rameswaram, He meditates in Badrinath. And while He rests in Dwarka, He has His food in Puri. A lot more emphasis is therefore laid on the temple food at Puri. The word “Mahaprasad” itself is a pointer to the same. In all other temples in India, devotees may take “PRASAD”- the holy food that has been offered to the deities. But the food offered to Lord Jagannath that is distributed among the devotees is called “MAHAPRASAD”.
The Mahaprasad at Jagannath temple consists of 88 different types of Bhog that are prepared in different phases daily. However on special occasions and during festivals the number of items increases drastically. Rasagollas are not allowed for Bhog except during Suna Vesha while the Deities remain on Rath after returning from Bahuda Yatra.

Daily Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath

Daily offerings are made to the Lord six times a day. These include:

The offering to the Lord in the Morning that forms His breakfast and is called The Gopala Ballava Bhog.
The Sakala Dhupa forms his next offering at about 10 O’ clock in the morning Sakala Dhupa. This generally consists of 13 items including the Enduri cake & Mantha puli.
Bada Singhara Bhog forms the next repast & the offering consists of Pakhala with dahi and Kanji payas. The offerings are made in the bhog mandapa, about 200 feet from the Ratna Vedi. This is called Chatra Bhog and was introduced by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to help pilgrims share the temple food.
The Madhyanha dhupa forms the next offering at the noon.
The next offering to the Lord is made in the evening at around 8 o’clock in the evening eight in the evening it is Sandhya Dhupa.
The last offering to the Lord is called the Bada Simhara Dhupa. Breakfast is a seven item treat — Khua, Lahuni, sweetened coconut grating, coconut liver, and puffed rice sweetened with sugar known as khai and curd and bananas.
The Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath are distributed amongst the devotees near the Ratnavedi in side the frame of Phokaria which is being drawn by the Puja pandas using Murujexcept for the Gopal Ballav Bhog and Bhog Mandap Bhoga which are distributed in the Anabsar Pindi & Bhoga Mandap respectively.

The items that form the core of offerings to Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad are:

Gopal Ballav Bhog (Breakfast at 9.00 A M )

The offering is the first one of the daily Prasad to Lord Jagannath.The Bhogs are offered at the Anabsar Pindi.

Ballav Khai – 44 Oli
Ripe Plaintaih – 7 Nos
Nadia Khudi – 3 Sara
Big Kora – 29 Nos
Small Kora – 220 Nos
Members of Sevayats conduct this Puja in 5 Upchars. The sevayats who conduct this ritual are Puja Panda, Sudha Suar, Ballav Jogania, Suar Badu, Gara Badu, Palia Maha Suar. In the month of Dhanu Sankranti, Ballav Bhog is offered along with Pahali Bhog. Similarly on the DolaPurnima and Snana Purnima days, the Ballav Bhog and Sakal Dhup are taken up at one time. During Anabasar the Bhogs are offered near Jay-Vijay door as Sarpamanohi, but not on ballav pindi.

Sakala Dhupa (Morning Meal at 10.00 A M )

This is the first cooked meal Bhog. The Sevaks offer this Bhog with 16 Upchars on sitting on Ratnavedi. The following items are offered as Bhog for the purpose.

Pithapuli – 4 Sara
Badakanti – 5 Sara
Enduri – 6 Nos cut in to 12 pieces
Mitha Puli – 6 Nos
Dahi Alu & Gray – 1 Sara
Hanskeli – 2 Sara
Sanakanti – 3 Sara
Chand for Puja Panda – 9
Kakapua Jhilli – 4 Nos
Ada Pachedi – 4 Sara
Bundia – 1 Sara
Tata Khechudi – 6 Khuda
Bada Kania – 3 Kudua
Nukhura Khechudi – 3
Sana Khechudi – 3
Sri Balabhadra Khechudi – 2 Kudua
Mendha Mundia – 1 No
Sana Kania – 2 Kudua
Oil Khechudi – 3
Saga – 5
Bhoga Mandapa Bhoga (Supplementary to Breakfast at 11.00 A M )

As per the demand of the devotees. The Bhogs are sold on Payment.

Madhyanna Dhupa (Mid Day Meal at 12.30 to 1.00 P M )

Like the Sakal Dhup, this is also performed in 16 Upchars. The Sevayats engaged for the Sakal Dhup are only allowed for Madhyan Dhup and Sandhya Dhup. Generally different types of sweet cakes are offered during this Puja. The Bhogs used for this purpose is as follows:

Bada Pitha – 4 Sara
Bada Arisa – 18 Nos
Matha Puli – 17 Nos
Bada Bada – 9 Nos
Sana Kakara – 4 Sara
Jhadei Nada – 2 Oli
Suar Manohar – 30
Bada Khairachula – 1
Bada Puspalak Arisa – 10
Gaja – 1 Oli (24 Nos)
Paga Arisa – 9
Biri Badi – 4 Oli
Thali Anna for Subhadra – 3 Kudua
Thali Anna for Jagannath- 4 Kudua
Sana Oli Oria – 4 Oli
Muga Dali – 4 Oli
Sana Oli Marichi Pani – 4 Oli
Sana Kadamba – 5 Oli
Bada Khirisa – 1 Oli
Subas Pakhal – 11 Oli
Chhena cake – 2 Sara
Sakara – 2 Oli
Sana Oli Bada Khirisa – 4 Oli
Pana – 5 Oli
Kadamba Handi – 3 Nos
Bada Oli Marichi Pani – 4 Oli
Pita Anna – 4 Oli
Bhog Oria Bada – 10 Oli
Thali Anna for Sudarsan – 2 Kudua
Balabhadra Thali Anna – 9 Kudua
Jh nada Tada – 1
B oak Arisa – 6
Marichi Ladu – 50
Sana Khairachula – 4
Thali paka Dhaula – 9
Manohar – 8
Jhadeinada Gula – 10 Nos
Bada Kakara – 9 Nos
Sana Arisa – 21 Nos
Tripuri – 5 Sara

Sandhya Dhupa (Evening Meal at 7.00 to 8.00 P M )
After the evening Arati, Sandhya Dhup Bhog is offered. This Arati is also called as Jaya Mangal Arati. Items are also prepared on request of devotees. The following items are presented for this Bhog.
Chipuda Pakhal – 14 Oli
Sana Oli Pakhal – 2 Oli
Kanar Puli – 3 Oli
Hata Poda Amalu – 7
Sana Amalu – 83
Pani Pakhal – 23 Oli
Sakara – 5 Oli
Math Puli – 22
Bada Amalu – 21

Bada Singhara Dhupa (Late night Meal at 11.00 P M )

This is the last Bhog of the deities. As per the record of Rites of Srimandir, the time has been fixed for 11.15 pm. Before Dhup, the Palia Puspalaks dressed up the deities with silk dressed (Pata), flower garlands and singing Gita Gobinda. The Bhog is performed with 5 Upchars by three members of Puja Pandas by sitting at the side of Ratnabedi. The following items are offered.

Suar Pitha – 1 Sara
Rosa Paika – 1 Sara
Mitha Pakhal – 11
Kanji – 3 Oli
Sarapuli Pitha – 5 Sara
Biri Buha Pitha – 1 Sara
Kadali Bada – 15
Khiri – 6 Oli