Today is World Pakhala Day. I do not know who decided on this and what was the basis of choosing this date, though I wholeheartedly welcome a day to celebrate the most staple diet of traditional Odia household. Considering that this is being celebrated on March 20 and not in the peak summer of May/June, this seems like more of welcoming the summer than celebrating it.
Pakahala is mother’s milk for Odias. This cooked rice soaked in water (and slightly fermented) is eaten throughout Eastern India. But in Odisha, it is more than a food; it is part of the culture. Why, it is the culture itself. Arguably, only Lord Jagannath is more ingrained in Odia culture than pakhala, such is its status.
[BTW, for the uninitiated, here is the link to Wikipedia entry on pakhala]
Apart from it being a regular and ubiquitous food, pakhala always has had a special place in the socio-cultural life of Odisha. It in a pakhala bowl with saag floating in it that Bhakta Dasia (a great devotee of Lord Jagannath) could “see” the face of the Lord. By the way, it is part of the Lord’s diet plan itself, in the Puri temple. In many regions of Odisha, it is an essential part of the marriage rituals. The groom is served with pakhala after the marriage by the sisters-in-law. Dahi pakhala, or a special pakhala made with curd, is a ceremonial dish eaten together after the bisarjan (immersion) of idols in Durga Puja. The list is long.
Celebrating pakhala is thus celebrating our roots; celebrating Odia culture. On this day, I present here a song that beautifully articulates the emotion that Odias have towards pakhala. The song, with versions sung by Pandita Balakrushna Dash and Srimati Shyamamani Pattnaik was written by Kavichandra Kalicharan Pattnaik.
Kavichandra who is known both for bringing in modernism into Odia songs and theater as well as for establishing the classical nature of Odissi, shows here his third side: capturing both the pakhala culture and the affinity of Odias towards pakhala. Here is the full lyrics in English script. If you want it in Odia script, you can download the pdf here.
Asa jibana dhana mora pakhala kansa
Asa jibana dhana
Sajanire to bihuna udila hamsa
Asa jibana dhana mora pakhala kansa
Asa jibana dhana…
Bahilani ana sakhi jhanja pavana
Athamari gala tunda jae jibana
To bina pakhala go
Phatila kapala go
Torani sangare mishi hara mo trusha
Asa jibana dhana mora pakhala kansa
Asa jibana dhana…
Sanga thakurani pita sukhua rani
To lagi niaan re sati jhasa deleni
Piaja khari dare
Chhala chhindai mare
Maricha kahuchi mote to tule misha
Asa jibana dhana mora pakhala kansa
Asa jibana dhana…
Odia jibana dhua saga pakhala
Jagannatha rasithae mane tu bhala
Chakhi nahin je thare
Dhika ta janamare
Manisha bhitare se ta anapurusha
Asa jibana dhana mora pakhala kansa
Asa jibana dhana…
Here is the version sung by Pandita Balakrushna Dash
And here is the version sung by Smt Shyamamani Pattnaik
Nothing to Declare 