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Bhandara, Mahaprasad Under Maharashtra FDA Lens: Why Organisers May Now Need A Licence
Planning a Bhandara or Mahaprasad? A new FDA rule could change how such events are organised across Maharashtra. Here is what organisers need to know
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Mumbai News: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made official registration or licensing mandatory for Bhandara and Mahaprasad events organised across Maharashtra, introducing stricter food safety requirements for large-scale community feeding programmes.
Under the new guidelines issued by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, organisers will have to obtain the required registration or licence before preparing and distributing food at such events. Authorities have warned that events held without the necessary registration could invite legal action, with a case potentially being registered against those responsible.
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The move is aimed at preventing food poisoning and ensuring that food served to large gatherings is prepared, stored and distributed under proper hygiene and safety standards.
Masks, Gloves And Caps Mandatory During Food Preparation
According to reports, the guidelines prescribe several hygiene measures for organisers and volunteers involved in preparing and serving Mahaprasad and Bhandara food.
Those preparing and distributing food will be required to wear masks and gloves, while volunteers involved in Mahaprasad preparation and distribution must wear caps. RO water has also been made mandatory for cooking and drinking purposes.
The FDA has further directed organisers to use only stainless steel or other food-safe containers for storing and distributing food.
Another key provision concerns stale food. Organisers have been warned that strict action will be taken if stale or unsafe food is found to have been served to devotees.
Registration Fee Set At Rs 100
To make compliance easier for organisers, the FDA has reportedly simplified the registration process. Organisers can apply online and obtain the necessary registration or licence by paying a fee of Rs 100.
The requirement is particularly significant during festivals and religious celebrations, when Bhandaras and Mahaprasad programmes are held at numerous locations and attract large numbers of devotees.
Tukaram Mundhe Steps Up Maharashtra’s Food Safety Crackdown
The latest directive is part of a wider food safety drive under FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who took charge of the Maharashtra FDA in May 2026. Since then, the department has intensified inspections and enforcement against food businesses and operators violating food safety regulations. Reuters reported that the FDA had conducted more than 3,000 raids under Mundhe’s watch, with inspections uncovering issues including expired food and pest infestations.
The FDA has also stepped up action against food adulteration. In June, a statewide campaign resulted in the seizure of suspected substandard and unsafe food weighing around 90,639 kg and valued at approximately Rs 1.24 crore. Mundhe warned that stricter action would follow wherever adulterated or substandard food was found.
One of Mundhe’s recent high-profile actions has been the ban on analogue paneer in Maharashtra. The state has prohibited its production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale for one year. Analogue paneer is a paneer-like product in which milk fat may be replaced with vegetable fats or oils and other ingredients. The FDA’s action followed concerns over such products being used or sold without adequate disclosure to consumers.
Earlier, the FDA had also directed hotels and restaurants to clearly disclose the use of analogue paneer and cheese analogues in food preparation. Action was subsequently initiated against establishments found selling or using such products without proper disclosure.
Mundhe’s food safety drive has also extended to schools. In July, the Maharashtra FDA directed schools across the state to stop the sale of unhealthy foods such as chocolates, chips and cold drinks on their premises.
The order covers government, aided and private schools and calls for healthier food options, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and dairy products. School canteens, hostel kitchens, mid-day meal contractors and Anganwadis were also brought under stricter food safety requirements, including FSSAI licensing.
The impact has already been visible in some Mumbai schools, where fried foods and fizzy drinks have reportedly been replaced with options such as idli, dosa, poha, sheera, upma and chaas.
Focus On Food Safety At Mass Gatherings
With Bhandara and Mahaprasad programmes often involving the preparation and distribution of food to hundreds or even thousands of devotees, the FDA’s latest guidelines place the responsibility for food safety firmly on organisers.
The registration requirement, combined with mandatory hygiene practices, safe water and food-grade storage, is intended to reduce the risk of contamination and food-borne illness while ensuring that religious and community feeding programmes meet basic food safety standards.
For organisers, the message from the FDA is clear: religious or charitable food distribution will not exempt an event from food safety regulations, and compliance will be required before the food is served.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The new rule requiring registration or licensing for Bhandara and Mahaprasad events will affect these specific large-scale community feeding programmes across Maharashtra.
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Original source: https://www.news18.com/
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