Ambaji Mohanthal Gets GI Tag: Gujarat’s Famous Temple Prasad Receives Recognition

Traditional Mohanthal Prasad of Ambaji Temple, Gujarat, has been recognized with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its relation to the region’s religious and culinary heritage. On 8th of October, 2026, GI Tag for Mohanthal Prasad was issued after an application filed by the Shree Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devsthan Trust on 1st of October. Also, the formal certificate handover ceremony to be held on 11th of October, 2026 and this date will also coincide with the first day of the Navratri Festival.

Details of GI Tag for Ambaji Mohanthal

Geographical Indications Registry has conferred the GI status to Ambaji Mohanthal under class 30, which includes many food items including confectionery and sweetmeats.

It has been applied by the Shree Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devsthan Trust, which is related to the Ambaji temple in Gujarat state. GI tag signifies the link between the traditional sweet and its geographical background and significance.

Mohanthal is an Indian sweet item which is traditionally made by mixing gram flour, ghee and sugar. Its significance lies in its association with Ambaji.

GI Certification Ceremony on October 11

As per the published document, the GI certificate handover ceremony will be organized on October 11, 2026 at the Ambaji Devasthan. This ceremony will fall on the first day of Navratri.

The ceremony will take place during the time period from 10 am to 11 am. Prof Dr Unnat P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and Registrar of Geographical Indications, will deliver the lecture on that occasion and hand over the certificate to the temple trust.

This ceremony will be held to commemorate the GI certification and also emphasize the protection of the traditional products of particular regions.

What is a Geographical Indication (GI) Label?

A Geographical Indication (GI) refers to an intellectual property that protects the unique quality of the product as well as the reputation of the product based on the geographical origin of the product.

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999 regulates the process of registration of a Geographical Indication in India.

Examples of GI-Tagged Temple Prasad in India

In India, there are a number of regional brands of foods that have religious significance and are traditional in the sense of being associated with certain regions. Besides Ambaji Mohanthal, some examples include,

• Tirupati Laddu: The famous prasad from the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
• Palani Panchamirtham: The traditional prasad from the Palani Murugan Temple in Tamil Nadu.
• Ambaji Mohanthal: The traditional prasad from Gujarat; according to the report, this was GI-tagged in October 2026.

The above examples demonstrate how GI protection can be beneficial for maintaining the traditional identity of these foods and places of worship.