Odisha Welcomes New Year with Pana Sankranti Festivities

Bhubaneswar: Odisha welcomed the Odia New Year on Sunday with vibrant celebrations marking Pana Sankranti, also known as Maha Bishuba Sankranti. The festival, steeped in tradition and spiritual significance, was observed across the state with devotion and enthusiasm.

The day began with the ceremonial release of the new Panjika — the Hindu solar almanac that outlines religious observances, auspicious timings, and astrological forecasts for the year ahead. Unlike other Hindu festivals that follow the lunar calendar, Pana Sankranti aligns with the solar calendar, commencing from Mesha Sankranti (sun’s transition into Aries) and concluding with Mina Sankranti (Pisces).

A central aspect of the celebration is the preparation and sharing of pana, a traditional sweet and tangy beverage made from bael (wood apple), jaggery, and seasonal fruits. Apart from its symbolic value in ushering the New Year, the drink also provides a cooling relief during the summer heat.

Pana Sankranti also marks the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman. Special prayers and rituals were held in temples, with devotees offering flowers, sweets, and sacred chants to the deity. In Puri, the day saw a special display of wrestling skills by traditional akhadas and Jaga Ghara wrestlers, who first offered prayers at Hanuman temples before performing.

Temples and pilgrimage sites across Odisha witnessed large gatherings, as devotees took holy dips in rivers and offered prayers seeking blessings for the coming year.

One of the unique rituals observed on this occasion is Basundhara Theki — an earthen pot filled with water, placed above a Tulsi plant, with a small hole at its base allowing water to drip slowly onto the plant. The ritual symbolizes the flow of prosperity and is considered a gesture of harmony with nature.

More than just the beginning of a new year, Pana Sankranti reflects the spirit of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, blending devotion, seasonal transition, and age-old customs in a vibrant celebration of life.