Significance of Maha Bishuba Sankranti & Odia Naba Barsa

Bhubaneswar: Pana Sankranti is also known as Maha Bishuba Sankanti is being celebrated across Odisha on April 14 every year. Maha Vishuba Sankranti marks the first day of the new Odia almanac and so it is also the traditional Odia New Year’s Day. Traditionally, it is also the birthday of Lord Hanuman.

The day is also known as Mesha Sankranti (due to the Mesha month of the Odia calendar). On this day, the sun changes its planetary position and enters Libra’s house, also known as Mesha. In northern India, this day marks the arrival of the spring season – the start of the sowing season. After this day, people start their agricultural activities across India.

On the holy occasion of Pana Sankranti, an earthen pot, filled with a sweet drink known as Pana, is hung over a Basil (Tulsi) plant. Through a tiny hole at the bottom of the pot, the sweet water falls drop by drop on the Tulsi plant.

The Pana is a mixture made of pulp of bela (wood apple), nadia kora (coconut gratings) chena (cottage cheese) and other items is considered to be one of the healthy and better options to neutralize the wrath of summer.