Odisha Welcomes New Year with Refreshing ‘Pana’ and Religious Zeal

Bhubaneswar: Odisha rings in the new year with jubilant celebrations of ‘Pana Sankranti,’ also known as ‘Maha Bisuba Sankranti’ or ‘Mesha Sankranti’, as the sun transitions into Aries. Marking the end of spring and the start of summer, the festival is a vibrant display of cultural heritage.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other dignitaries extended their greetings to the people of Odisha on this auspicious occasion. A central element of the festivities is Pana, a refreshing drink made with wood apple, jaggery, yoghurt, and spices. This delightful concoction is believed to possess cooling properties, perfect for the approaching summer.

The iconic Jagannath Temple in Puri becomes a centre of special rituals. The newly prepared almanac is presented to the revered sibling deities. Devotees across the state observe fasts and offer prayers in temples, presenting Pana, food, and cloth as offerings. Special prayers are dedicated to Shalagram, Shivalinga, Hanuman, and other deities. A unique tradition involves hanging a small, perforated pot filled with Pana or a sweet Mishri drink over a sacred Tulsi plant. Additionally, people consume chhatua, a horse gram flour preparation, along with banana and curd, after offering it to the Tulsi.

The festivities extend beyond temples. Devi Pithas like Cuttack Chandi, Biraja, Samaleswari Temple, and Sarala witness throngs of devotees attending the spectacular Jhamu Yatra, a fire walk ritual. Participants, known as Patuas or holy devotees, undertake this challenging feat as a form of penance or to express gratitude to the goddess for fulfilling their wishes.

Maha Bisuba Sankranti manifests in diverse forms across Odisha. In North Odisha, it is observed as Chadak Parva. The southern regions celebrate the culmination of the month-long Danda Nata festival with the closing ceremony called Meru Yatra. Danda Nata performances involve Danduas, a group led by a chief Pata Dandua, who travel from village to village, performing acts of self-inflicted pain like piercing their bodies with iron nails or walking on fire, accompanied by the sounds of drums, cymbals, and conch shells. These acts serve as appeasement rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Maha Bisuba Sankranti shares similarities with other major Indian New Year festivals like Baisakhi (Punjab), Bihu (Assam), Maithili New Year, Naba Barsha (Bengal), Vishu (Kerala), and Puthandu (Tamil Nadu).