Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today distributed ‘Tanka Torani’, a special sacred drink, to devotees gathered on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) in Puri on the occasion of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. The government set up a stall on the side of the Grand Road and the CM personally handed out the refreshing drink to the devotees, who accepted it with joy and gratitude.
Tanka Torani, also known as Abadha Torani, is a traditional drink prepared with curd, raw chillies, lemon, ginger, bay leaves, and cumin seeds mixed with cooked Abadha rice. It is a popular offering to devotees during the Rath Yatra, when the chariot is pulled from the Srimandir to the Gundicha temple.
The tradition of serving Tanka Torani dates back to ancient times, with records of its serving mentioned in the Kabir Chaura Math as far back as 1512. In recent years, the Odisha Police Havildar has been distributing Tanka Torani to devotees from an “Abadha Torani Distribution Center” set up in front of the temple since 2013.
CM Majhi’s gesture of distributing Tanka Torani to devotees has been appreciated by the devotees, who feel blessed to have received the sacred drink. The CM has been participating in various programs in Puri on the occasion of Rath Yatra and has extended his greetings to the people of Odisha on this auspicious day.