Odisha’s fight for rasogolla not over yet, plans new strategy

Bhubaneshwar : A day after West Bengal secured GI tag for ‘Banglar Rasogolla’, the Odisha government on Wednesday said it would apply for the tag for ‘Odishara Rasogolla’ soon.

“It has been decided to file an application for Odishara Rasogolla with the GI Registry. It is rooted in Jagannath culture,” said Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department Secretary L.N. Gupta. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan.

The Odisha government had received flak from various quarters for not applying before the Geographical Indication (GI) Registry even though a report substantiating the origin of the sweet has been prepared by historians and submitted before it.

Banglar Rasogolla has been registered with GI on the West Bengal government’s application. This only provides the GI Tag to the ‘Banglar Rasogolla’ specific to West Bengal.

“GI registration for Banglar Rasogolla in no way affects claim for GI tag for Odishar Rasogolla. The Bengal and Odisha variants are different in colour, texture, taste, juice content, and method of manufacturing,” said Gupta.

The Odishara Rasogolla is softer and light brown whereas Bangalar Rasogolla has white and cream colour.