As sweet as Rasagola is, the innocent white delicacy has been a subject of a bitter feud for as long as I have known. Apparently, the neighbouring states of Odisha and West Bengal have been debating the origins of the sweet dish for the longest time.
For Odisha, it’s their sweet Rasagola that traces its origin in the 11th century when Lord Jagannath appeased angry Goddess Laxmi with the sweet delicacy. However, for West Bengal, Rasgulla is their pride. They believe it was the creation of a Kolkata-based confectioner, Nobin Chandra Das, in 1868.
In 2019, the ‘Battle of the Sweet’ concluded with a draw match when Odisha was granted a GI (geographical indicator) tag for ‘Odisha Rasagola’ within two years after West Bengal got the GI tag for its version of the sweet delicacy.
Happy to share that #Odisha Rasagola has received GI Tag in Geographical Indication Registry. This mouthwatering culinary delight made of cottage cheese, loved by Odias across the world, is offered to Lord Jagannath as part of bhog since centuries #OdishaRasagola pic.twitter.com/9SchxLaAcv
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 29, 2019
However, I came across this old video of Sourav Ganguly on Twitter. And from what it looked like, Dada has settled the ‘Rasagola vs Rasgulla’ debate once and for all.
ସୌରଭ ଗାଙ୍ଗୁଲିଙ୍କ ସ୍ବୀକାରୋକ୍ତି
— Bhubaneswar Buzz (@BBSRBuzz) August 5, 2022
“ରସଗୋଲା ଓଡ଼ିଶାର” । #rasagoladibasa pic.twitter.com/fDHQyEcWkq
Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, was born and brought up in Calcutta, West Bengal. With Dada claiming Rasagola has come from Odisha, the debate seems to have settled, and now we can all rest.
Here’s how people reacted to this.
Now that we have some celebrity, testimonials – Bengali friends please come and have some #PahalaRasagola with us and do bring some #KadaPagSandesh https://t.co/W6zqkf9tlo
— Anustup Nayak (@anustup_nayak) August 5, 2022
Thanks @SGanguly99
— Suvasish Pattanaik ଶୁଭାଶିଷ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ (@mail2jubu) August 5, 2022
True ambassador of Odisha.
Dada you right Rasgola Odisha ra. Many many thanks.
— sk mohanty (@skmohan18777367) August 5, 2022
When someone tastes the original delicious Rasagola from Odisha: https://t.co/LDsCVGFR2w
— Priyam🍴 (@badmashtoka) August 5, 2022
Thank you sourav bhai for accepting this @SGanguly99 .Regards https://t.co/evNkWhqK27
— Sujata Kumari Sahu (@nation1stsujata) August 5, 2022
Rasagola or Rasgulla, it’s just the best. For the majority, like me, it’s the sweet sugary spongy roll that brings back all the fond childhood memories and the gold old days.