About the day:
- The reason behind the day – It is the first day of the solar year.
- Only on this day, the Sun fully rests on the equator on two occasions namely ‘Mesha Sankranti’ and ‘Tula Sankranti’
- Maha Bishuba Pana Sankranti is celebrated as the Odia New Year on 13 April. Pana Sankranti begins on 13 April every year.
- The day is named after “Pana”, a drink offering. The day is celebrated with great joy, social, cultural and religious performances.
Pana Sankranti:
- After Mesha Sankranti, the Sun moves in the northern direction to the side where India is situated to the north of the equator.
- Hence from this day of the first movement of the Sun from Mesha Sankranti that the New Year is counted.
- As per the tradition of Odia, the Pana Sankranti is believed to be the birthday of the Hindu deity Hanuman. His loving devotion towards Vishnu avatar Rama in Ramayana is legendary.
- His temples, along with those of Shiva and Surya (the sun god) are revered in the new year. Hindus also visit Devi temples on Pana Sankranti.
Celebrations:
- On this day, people use a small pot filled with “pana” or a sweet drink of Mishri and water is hung on a basil (Tulsi) plant.
- A hole is made at the bottom of the pot which allows the water to fall from the pot, representing rain.
- The festival is observed widely in the coastal areas, in some towns and villages of other areas as a rigorous ritualistic observance in Odisha.
- Other festivals are otherwise known as Jharnu Yatra, Hingula Yatra or Patua Yatra, Danda Yatra, Uda Yatra culminate in the Bishuba Sankranti.
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