Maha Bisuba Sankranti (Pana Sankranti)

Pana Sankranti is celebrated as a festival in Odisha. The day comes when in the solar method of Hindu calendar, the sun (Surya) enters to Mesha rashi (Aries) and is over Visubha rekha (Equator). The day depicts the solar month of Mesha (Aries) as per the Hindu calendar.

Therefore, the day is also known as Maha vishubha sankranti, Mesha sankranti and the Meru sankranti. Odiya people observe it as the beginning of their New Year day because of the astronomical importance. It also marks the starting of petty summer season. On this day, the Odiya families get up early in the morning and to take sankranti buda (the bath) in nearby located rivers/ponds. Gayatri mantra is recited by standing in knee deep water while they worship lord Surya. Some of the people perform the homa (worship in front of fire).

The people spend their day visiting temples Many keep upwas (fast) while the other people take some simple vegetarian food. As denoted, it marks the setting up of summer in the region which renders the people thirsty. So, the benevolent part of the society offers pana that is cold sweetened water to the thirsty person. It is also served to relatives and friends to display their of goodwill. Although the pana is expected to be sweetened water that is generally made of pulp of nadia kora (coconut gratings), bela (wood apple), chena (cottage cheese) etc. mixed with black pepper and ginger. As pana is distributed on this day, the sankranti is most commonly called as Pana sankranti. Some other features of this Odiya celebration is the worship of tulashi plant and some other plants in general.

It is also pertinent to ention that in every Odia Bela pana some sweet drink is always served on this occasion. Every house had a tulashi plant in flower pots in the front of house courtyard. Odiyas people consider it like Tulashi or Maa Brundabati. Thus, to provide relief from summer the plant of Tulashi is kept away from the heat. In various places, some traditional Odiya dishes are prepared; pithas are made and are shared with the friends and the family members. Hence, this way this day is spent enjoying and merrymaking. The famous Jhamu yatra or long Danda is celebrated in the southern Odisha that ends on this day.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pana_Sankranti