Bhubaneswar: Odisha and Odia people living across the globe celebrated ‘Pakhala Dibasa’ by consuming a bowl of the staple Odia food ‘Pakhala’ on Tuesday.
On 20th March, we celebrate #PakhalaDibasa. My SandArt at Puri beach on this unique celebrations for the Summer delicacy of Odisha. pic.twitter.com/8OptlxXAY4
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) March 19, 2018
The ‘Pakhala Dibasa’ celebrated every year on March 20, marks the beginning of the traditional onset of summer.
Wishing A Very Happy Pakhala Dibasa To Lovely People Of #Odisha. 20th March Is Celebrated By Eating #Pakhala (made from rice) To Welcome Summer Season With Odisha’s Traditional Food. ????#PakhalaDibasa pic.twitter.com/cJpsAJj7Bk
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) March 20, 2018
MPs from Odisha, including Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh, Sidhant Mohapatra, Tathagat Satapathy, Rabindra Jena and Prasanna Patasani celebrated Pakhala Dibasa by relishing it at Jagannath Temple in New Delhi.
Proud to be #ODIA ??
Happy #PAKHALA DIBASA ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8Jj4OCsx2u— Anubhav Mohanty (@AnubhavMohanty_) March 20, 2018
Many restaurants and hotels also hosted special Pakhala menu on the day. Odia cuisine speciality restaurants including Dalma, Sohola Ana Odia and hotels including Mayfair Lagoon prepared a special meal of Pakhala (watered rice) variants including vegetarian and non-vegetarian side dishes.
Many Non-Resident Odias (NROs) also celebrated the day and posted photographs on social media.
