Bhubaneswar: The popularity of the pakhala recipe has reached heights with Odias worldwide celebrating the good-old dish as Pakhala Dibasa on Tuesday.

Pakhala is an Odia term for cooked rice washed or fermented in water. Depending on the palette, a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian accompaniments are served with it to spice up the taste.

Thousands of people took to various social networking sites to share their stories of attachment with pakhala, while many shared pictures of feasts over pakhala at homes and outside.

A number of popular film stars also shared their feelings and experiences of having pakhala. Popular star Anubhav Mohanty shared a picture of him holding a placard that reads: "I love Pakhala."

For the vegetarians, the accompaniments included badi chura, saga bhajja, aloo bhartha, baingan bharta, while the non-veg items include chuna machha, machha bhaja (fried fish), chingudi rai (mashed shrimp).

A number of hotels across the state are hosting Pakhala festivals to mark the occasion. "This festival is an opportunity for foodies, who want a proper place outside home to enjoy the dish. We have been organising the festival for the last few years, considering the demand of Pakala outside homes. The office goers, IT employees and MNC workers can have this and enjoy," said manager at Utkal Hotel in the city.

A vegetarian pakhala meal is available at Rs 350 and the non-veg one comes at a pocket pinch of Rs 400. At a number of budget eateries, one can gorge on pakhala at Rs 70.

Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sand art on the theme with a bowl of fermented rice in the middle and a number of popular side dishes along with it. He put up the creation on Twitter.

For many, pakhala is a way to enhance family bonding. "All family members sit on the floor to relish a meal. Many also share pakhala bowls with each other," said Manisha Jena, a homemaker.