Odisha marked World Pakhala Day with a grand state-level celebration ‘Pakhala Paraba’ at Panthanivas, where Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi joined thousands in honouring the traditional dish.
The Tourism Department prepared a massive 1,177 kg Pakhala using 850 kg of rice, aiming for a Guinness World Record. The dish was distributed among more than 2,000 people from underprivileged communities. The Chief Minister emphasised that Pakhala is not just food but an inseparable part of Odisha’s culture and tradition.
Majhi recalled his childhood memories with Pakhala and highlighted its importance in Jagannath Temple rituals, where it is offered as “Tanka Torani.” He described Pakhala as a zero-waste food with probiotic qualities that promote health. He noted that the festival unites Odias worldwide, connecting them to their roots.
The Chief Minister interacted virtually with Odia communities from Indonesia, Malaysia, Bahrain, Singapore, and 15 Indian states. He honoured chefs promoting Odia cuisine globally. The event also showcased 326 varieties of Odia dishes, adding to the cultural grandeur.
During the event, several dignitaries were present on stage, including Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly Surama Padhy, Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, Rajya Sabha MP Manmohan Samal, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, and Chief Secretary Anu Garg. Alongside them, many legislators and special guests also attended the celebration.
