Gujarat’s Famous Ambaji Temple ‘Mohanthal’ Prasad Receives GI Tag
The Geographical Indication recognition will help protect the centuries old sweet offering’s religious significance, traditional identity and reputation linked to Gujarat’s revered Ambaji shrine.
AMBAJI (Gujarat), Oct 11: The famous Mohanthal prasad offered at Gujarat’s revered Ambaji temple has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, marking a significant milestone in preserving the region’s religious and culinary heritage. The recognition was announced on the first day of the Navratri festival, officials said on Sunday.
Made from gram flour, sugar and ghee, Mohanthal holds a special place in the religious traditions of the Ambaji temple, one of the prominent Shaktipeeths located in Banaskantha district. The sweet is widely regarded as the shrine’s signature offering and carries deep spiritual significance for devotees.
Banaskantha Collector and managing trustee of the Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust, Mihir Patel, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government for granting the recognition.
He said the prasad represents the faith of devotees and reflects a religious tradition that has continued for generations. The GI tag, he added, was a matter of pride for worshippers of Goddess Ambaji.
The official registration certificate was presented to the temple trust during a ceremony held in Ambaji town on Sunday.
Unnat Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and Registrar of Geographical Indications, said the recognition was particularly meaningful as the Sharadiya Navratri celebrations had begun. He noted that receiving the traditional offering is an important part of the devotional experience for worshippers.
Pandit said Mohanthal has a centuries-old history and enjoys a special connection with devotees across the world. The recognition would help safeguard this longstanding tradition and preserve its cultural significance for future generations.
A Geographical Indication tag identifies products whose reputation, quality or distinctive characteristics are associated with a particular geographical region. It provides legal recognition to their regional identity and helps protect them against unauthorised use of the registered name.
According to Pandit, the GI registration would strengthen efforts to preserve the heritage associated with Ambaji’s traditional offering. After the certificate was presented at the ceremony, it was placed at the feet of Goddess Ambaji before being handed over to Patel.
He said the recognition would allow devotees receiving the prasad to remain connected with India’s cultural and religious traditions while helping ensure that the offering retains its distinctive identity.
Situated amid the Aravalli hills, the Ambaji temple attracts lakhs of devotees every year. It is considered an important centre of Shakti worship, drawing pilgrims from different parts of India and abroad.
Unlike many Hindu temples, the shrine does not house an idol of the Goddess. Instead, devotees worship the sacred Shri Yantra as the principal representation of the deity, according to the temple trust’s website.
The GI recognition of Mohanthal adds another dimension to the shrine’s heritage, formally linking its renowned prasad with the place and traditions that have shaped its identity over centuries.
