Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is hopeful of getting geographical indication (GI) tag for "Odisha rasagolla".

The government, which has been asked by the GI authorities to clarify some 14 points raised by it, will shortly submit the clarifications.

Odisha micro, small and medium enterprises minister Prafulla Samal said that the clarifications would be submitted by the first week of August. "We had sought time till August 21. But we will be able to submit our report much before that - by the first week of August," he said,

Rasagolla, a cheese-based sweetmeat, hogged limelight ever since the Chennai-based Intellectual Property Office announced in November last year that "rasogolla" had its geographical origin in Bengal and conferred the GI tag on it as "Banglar rasogolla."

Odisha subsequently staked its claim for the tag for "Odisha rasagola" stating that it had very ancient origin.

Incidentally, rasagolla is offered to Goddess Laxmi by Lord Jagannath at the 12th century Shree Jagannath temple on the day coinciding with niladri bije, the day when the Trinity return to the temple after their nine-day rath yatra sojourn.

The confectioners of Pahala sweet market on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar have started observing the Niladri Bije day as the "rasagolla divas". This year, the day falls on July 25.

The Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) had earlier filed an application seeking GI-tag for "Odisha rasagolla".

On June 22, the office of GI Registry in Chennai had sought several clarifications from the Odisha government. It asked the government to produce documentary evidence - such as gazette, published books or official records - as proof of origin.

The registry had also asked the government to give a brief statement describing the special characteristics and quality parameters of the product. The government was also told to highlight the traditional practices and know-how adopted to produce the sweet. The GI registry also sought to know the raw materials used in the product, method of production, finished products, characteristics and texture involved.

Samal said: "We have made three amendments to our petition. First, we have changed to 'Odisha rasagolla' from 'Odishara rasagolla'. We have also changed our logo. Thirdly, the Utkal Mistanna Bhandar, Pahala, has also been made a party."

"We are carefully and meticulously complying with the clarifications sought by the GI registry. For this, we are also consulting several experts including former chief secretary Subas Chandra Pani, who is a scholar on the Jagannath cult," said the minister.

Earlier, there had been widespread resentment across several sections of people in the state over the alleged delay in obtaining the GI tag by Odisha for its rasagolla. In May, Orissa High Court had taken up a PIL seeking intervention against "inaction" of Odisha in "taking needful steps" for applying and obtaining GI registration. The court had sought reply from the state's chief secretary, the chief administrator Shree Jagannath Temple Administration and the assistant registrar (trademark) of Intellectual Property Office in Chennai.