Pakhala – Our new cultural symbol

What's this brouhaha about Pakhala Dibasa?

Pakhala existed wherever there was rice - grown and consumed as a staple. Leftovers were treated the same way to preserve them till the next meal everywhere but called by different names.

Then why are we celebrating it? And why it's so important to us.

Odias despite their rich history and cultural superiority in many fields, for close to two centuries had to live under the shadows of more dominant neighbours at their north, south, and eastern borders. With their short stature, meek personality, agreeable, unassertive, and peaceful nature, they became the pushovers of the big boys who grew under the colonial patronage and exposure and on whose geographical fringes the Odias lived. Made to take subordinate roles always, words like Chuda, Mafsalia, and Gaunli were liberally used to describe the rural backwards to show them their place. Pakhalakhia was generally used to describe their preference for an easy-going life and insistence on a siesta after partaking it. They gulped the indignity showered on them, accepted the description and blamed themselves for their situation.

The scene has changed in the last 75 years and Odias are now everywhere from the leadership positions across the globe to migrant labourers. Places in Odisha are not in the remote outback or a pixel on some old maps but its pictures are found and flaunted in the metro stations to international airports attracting millions.

Odias are no pushovers now.

Celebration of pakhala symbolises the resurgence and assertion of Odias from their earlier state to the current where they stand shoulder to shoulder with others on equal terms. They turned the stick which was used to humiliate them into their totem pole. A successful person is never shy to show his humble past. He flaunts it when he is successful. Odias are successful - is the subtle message.

Who led the campaign?

Not the urban elite but the ones who are the product of the IT boom. They didn’t stay at Bhubaneswar to shed their muffosil blood by intermingling with the already settlers. They migrated from rural anonymity to metros like Gurugram, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru or foreign destinations after a short stay in some engineering colleges of Bhubaneswar. The early settlers were the self-deprecating self-flagellating who were defensive of their rustic past. Not this gang. Fired up by the new money, their rusticness couldn’t prevent them from asserting their place in society to be accepted as they actually are. They didn’t bother to wear the layers of makeup that others had put on to gain acceptance in the new landscape.

They have pushed the food of the poorest to the tables of the richest and the most powerful. Heads of the states are treated to the fare and celebrated chefs see immense merit in it because of its low calorie probiotic loaded goodness.

The only downside is the poor Pakhala who for thousands of years had basic salt and humble onion as her only company, now is surrounded by a galaxy of Uber side-dishes thus making her feel a bit like Sudama at Krishna's palace - out of place.

Pakhala is a witness to our glacial evolution; from the days of self-preservation to self-assertion through a small period of self-flagellation.