Bhubaneswar-based
online food ordering platform TasteMoreNew (TMN) will celebrate Pakhala Dibasa
or Universal Pakhala Day on March 20. As
part of the celebrations, TMN encourages its staff members, customers and people
in general to eat pakhala on that day.
Pakhaḷa
is not just a rice item for the people
of Odisha, it is a part of socio-cultural identity. It is very difficult to
trace the time period when this food item was first consumed by the people of
Odisha. As it was included in the recipe
of Lord Jagannath, so we can presume Pakhala's origin would have around tenth
century AD. However, its accuracy is questionable.
Regardless
to it, Pakhaḷa is the best rice food item in Odisha. There is not a single home
in Odisha where you cannot find a bowl with Pakhal bhata in it. During summer, every Odia takes it twice or
thrice a day to beat the heat and sun stroke. It has several other health benefits, due to
which the food is now widely consumed in other states like West Bengal, Bihar,
Chattisgarh, and Assam. It is also
consumed in countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.
March
20 marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and fall (autumn)
in the southern hemisphere from an astronomical viewpoint. Twice a year, around
March 20 or 21 and September 22 or 23, the sun shines directly on the equator
and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world. So
20th March is the perfect day to celebrate Universal Pakhala Day.
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