Bhubaneswar: In the heart of Odisha, a group of farmers in Cuttack’s Nilali area are tending to their land with devotion and care, cultivating special varieties of aromatic rice that will be used in the preparation of Mahaprasad in Puri Shree Jagannath Temple, thanks to Government’s Amruta Anna Yojana.
The project is not just about farming – it’s about serving their beloved deity and finding spiritual fulfillment.
For these farmers, the opportunity to contribute to the Mahaprasad is a divine blessing. “We are blessed enough. Our life is devoted to Lord. Our birth is justified,” says Ajay Das, a farmer and devotee of Lord Jagannath of Niali.
The farmers are using organic fertilizers, free from chemicals, to cultivate the special paddy. “There is nothing more pleasurable than our paddy will be used in the preparation of Mahaprasad in Puri. This is all blessings of our beloved Lord Jagannath,” says Gagan Bihari Swain, another farmer.
The Amruta Anna Yojana is a unique initiative that aims to promote organic farming and provide a platform for farmers to serve Lord Jagannath. The Government has selected specific areas in Nilai of Cuttack, Padmapur and Paikamal of Bargarh, Kotpad, Jeypore and Borigumma of Koraput for the implementation of this project.
The Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee recently visited Nilai and interacted with some farmers. He says, “The rice harvested from organic methods will be used in the preparation of Kotha Bhoga of Lord Jagannath. In the next phase, we aim to introduce organic rice in some portion of Mahaprasad in the Ananda Bazar.”
ଜୟ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥ। 🙏🙏
“ଅମୃତ ଅନ୍ନ” ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର ସଫଳତା ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ତଥା ସମସ୍ତ ସେବକ/ଅଧିକାରୀ ବନ୍ଧୁମାନଙ୍କ ସହଯୋଗ କାମନା କରୁଛୁ। ପ୍ରଥମ ପର୍ଯ୍ଯାୟରେ, କୋଠଭୋଗ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତି ନିମିତ୍ତ ଜୈବିକ ଚାଉଳ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ ପାଇଁ ଆମର ପ୍ରଚେଷ୍ଟା ଜାରି ରହିଛି।
ଆଜି ନିଆଳିରେ ଚାଷ କିଆରୀ ବୁଲି ଦେଖିବା ଅବସରରେ। pic.twitter.com/sklppivBBj
— Arabinda K Padhee (@arvindpadhee) July 29, 2025
As the farmers work tirelessly to cultivate the special paddy, they are not just earning a living – they are also finding spiritual fulfillment. The project is a testament to the power of faith and the importance of serving one’s community.
The Amruta Anna Yojana is a win-win for both the farmers and the temple, promoting sustainable agriculture and providing a unique opportunity for devotees to serve Lord Jagannath. As the project continues to grow, it’s clear that the seeds of devotion sown by these farmers will bear fruit for years to come.
