Ambaji (Gujarat), Oct 11 (IANS) Ambaji temple’s traditional ‘Mohanthal’ prasad has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, providing legal protection for its name and helping preserve its traditional identity and preparation.
The official certificate was presented to the Shree Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust at a ceremony held at Chachar Chowk in Ambaji on the first day of Navratri.
The certificate was issued on October 1, following an application by the temple trust and completion of the prescribed statutory procedures.
The ceremony was chaired by Prof. Dr Unnat Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and Registrar of Geographical Indications, in the presence of Banaskantha District Collector Mihir Patel and other officials.
Speaking at the event, Pandit stressed the importance of preserving the original identity and quality of traditional products. “The GI tag would help ensure that devotees visiting Ambaji receive authentic Mohanthal prasad,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, which has established a dedicated GI store to promote and sell GI-tagged products.
The store displays products from different parts of the country, helping preserve their traditional identities while improving their marketability.
Pandit said the recognition honoured not only the distinctive identity of Ambaji’s Mohanthal but also the faith of millions of devotees in Ma Jagdamba and the region’s spiritual heritage.
“The GI tag would provide legal protection against unauthorised use and duplication of the name, while supporting the preservation of the prasad’s traditional preparation,” he said.
With the recognition, Ambaji’s Mohanthal joins other well-known Indian religious offerings that have received GI tags, including Tirupati Laddu and Palani Panchamirtham.
Kaushik Modi, administrator of the Ambaji temple and additional collector, delivered the address, outlining the significance of the GI tag and the efforts made by the temple trust to secure the recognition.
The ceremony was attended by officials of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Gujarat Task Force on Intellectual Property, representatives of collaborating organisations, members of the temple trust, trust officials and employees, and devotees.
The GI recognition gives Ambaji’s traditional offering a distinct geographical identity and a framework for protecting its name from unauthorised use, while reinforcing its association with the temple and its established traditions.
–IANS
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