Kanika (Odia: କାନିକା) is an aromatic sweet rice dish. It is an Odia dish traditionally prepared during festivals and pujas. It is one of the cooked items of the 56 dishes prepared as part of Mahaprasada or Chappan Bhoga in the Jagannath Temple.[1] It is offered to Lord Jagannath as part of the morning meal known as sakala dhupa.[2][better source needed]
It was traditionally served in Odia weddings or picnics but has largely been replaced by pulao and biryani.[citation needed]
The key ingredients used to make it are fragrant rice, ghee, raisins, cashews, black cardamom, green cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mace, bay leaf, nutmeg powder, sugar, salt and turmeric.[3][better source needed]