Odias all across the globe celebrate the ‘Odia New Year’

Bhubaneswar: Today is the auspicious day on which Odias all across the globe celebrate the ‘Odia New Year’ or on the day of Odia ‘Pana Sankranti’. Like every year, Pana Sankranti is celebrated on April 14.

People were seen to throng in bee line outside all the temples of the state. Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik has also tweeted wishing the people of the state on the occasion of Maha Visubha Sankranti or Odia New year.

However, it may be noted here that the very day is actually named after ‘Pana’ which is a drink prepared on this occasion. The Odia New Year is believed to start on this day. Pana Sankranti is also otherwise known as ‘Maha Visubha Sankranti’. As per sources, the very reason for which the Pana Sankranti is considered as the first day of the solar year or the New Year is due to the factor that the sun fully rests on the equator on this day and the length of the days and night also remains equal on this day. After the Sankranti, the sun moves towards the northern direction to our side as our country lies at the northern side of the equator. It is from this day, the movement of the earth starts.

‘Pana’ which is considered as the integral part of the festival, prepared by mixing different types of fruits, water, milk, pulp of bela (stone apple), curd and sugar. Besides, ‘Amba Pana’ that includes mango pulp, is offered to Lord Jagannath to convey New Year wishes while many offer the beverage to Lord Shiva by adding little ‘bhaang’.