Karmabai is born in village Pandhrpur, Maharastra. She was a staunch devotee to Lord Vishnu. Since her childhood. Karmabai became a widow at her young age. Her in-laws started torturing her for the property. Afraid of torture, 
she left her home and made way to Puri where she started worshipping Lord Jagannath with deep devotion. Due to her deep devotion Lord Jagannath himself impressed on her and went to her in disguise as a boy to eat Kanika Khechedi (Sweet Rice) prepared by her. Accordingly the sweet rice is regularly offered to Lord Jagannath at Puri temple till date. In accordance with the name of Karmabai, the earthen pot in which the boiled rice (Abhada) offered to Deities is called “Bai Handi”.
