Arpan1314 at 06:15, 14 April 2026

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{{short description|Odia new year}}
{{see also|Indian New Year's days}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Maha Bishuba Sankranti<br />Pana Sankranti
| official_name = Maha Bishuba Sankranti
| nickname = Pana Sankranti<br />Odia Nua Barsa
| longtype = Social, Cultural, Religious
| type = Hindu
| image = Pana Sankranti (Maha Vishuba Sankranti) offerings with Bela Pana juice.jpg
| caption = Pana Sankranti (Maha Vishuba Sankranti) offerings with [[Bela Pana]]
| observedby = [[Odia people|Odia]]s
| date = 1st [[Vaisakha|Baisakha]] of [[Odia calendar]]
| date2026 = 14 April
| observances = [[Puja (Hinduism)|Pujas]], [[procession]]s, [[Bela Pana]]
| celebrations = Meru Jatra, Jhaamu Jatra, Chadak Parba
| significance = Odia New Year
| relatedto = [[South and Southeast Asian solar New Year]]
}}

'''Maha Bishuba Sankranti''' ({{langx|or|ମହା ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି}}), also known as '''Pana Sankranti''' ({{langx|or|ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି}}),<ref>{{citation |last1=Bhatt |first1=SC |last2=Bhargava |first2=Gopal K. |title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories In 36 Volumes Orissa Volume 21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDsORXsjZ5QC |publisher=Kalpaz |page=419 |date=2006 |isbn=9788178353777 }}</ref><ref name="(India)">{{cite book|author=Orissa (India)|title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Ganjam|year=1966|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JDNuAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press}}</ref><ref name=foulston178/> is the traditional new year day festival of [[Odia people]] in [[Odisha]], India.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110419195447/http://www.odishanewstoday.com/features/354-odisha-celebrates-maha-vishuba-sankranti-with-fervor-.html Maha Vishuba Sankranti] Odisha celebrates Maha Vishuba Sankranti with Fervor</ref><ref name="Classic Cooking of Odisha">{{cite book|title=Classic Cooking of Orissa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jj_qBSIfgdIC&pg=PA26|access-date=13 April 2012|series=Danda Nata|year = 2010|publisher=Allied Publishers|isbn=978-81-8424-584-4|pages=26–}}</ref><ref name="Arts1995">{{cite book|author=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts|title=Prakr̥ti: Primal elements, the oral tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VaLpAAAAMAAJ|access-date=13 April 2012|series=Meru Day, Meru Sankranti|year=1995|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts|isbn=978-81-246-0037-5|page=172}}</ref> The festival occurs in the solar [[Odia calendar]] (the [[Lunisolar calendar|lunisolar]] [[Hindu calendar]] followed in Odisha) on the first day of the traditional solar month of [[Meṣa]], hence equivalent lunar month [[Vaisakha|Baisakha]]. This falls on the Purnimanta system of the Indian [[Hindu calendar]].<ref name=foulston178/> It therefore falls on 13/14 April every year on the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref name="Melton2011p633"/>

The festival is celebrated with visits to [[Shiva]], [[Shaktism|Shakti]] or [[Hanuman]] temples.<ref name="Behera1997p79"/> People take baths in rivers or major pilgrimage centers. Communities participate in {{Transliteration|or|mela}} (fairs), participate in traditional dance or acrobatic performances. Feasts and special drinks such as a chilled wood apple-milk-yoghurt-coconut drink called {{Transliteration|or|pana}} is shared, a tradition that partly is the source of this festival's name.<ref name="Behera1997p79"/><ref name=foulston178/>

Pana Sankranti is related to new year festivals in [[South and Southeast Asian solar New Year]] as observed by Hindus and Buddhists elsewhere such as [[Vaisakhi]] (north and central India, Nepal), [[Bohag Bihu]] ([[Assam]]), [[Pohela Boishakh]] ([[Bengal]]), [[Puthandu]] ([[Tamil Nadu]]) etc.<ref name="Melton2011p633">{{cite book|author=J. Gordon Melton|title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lD_2J7W_2hQC&pg=PA633|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-206-7|page=633}}</ref><ref name="DasguptaMishra1996">{{cite book|author1=Kalyan Kumar Dasgupta|author2=P. K. Mishra|title=Aspects of Indian history and historiography: Professor Kalyan Kumar Dasgupta felicitation volume|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOFtAAAAMAAJ|access-date=13 April 2012|series=World wise "vishuba sankranti" |year=1996|publisher=Kaveri Books|isbn=978-81-7479-009-5|page=111}}</ref>

==Practices==
In the Odia Hindu tradition, Pana Sankranti is believed to be the birthday of the Hindu deity [[Hanuman]], whose loving devotion to [[Rama]] (the seventh incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) in the [[Ramayana]] is legendary. His temples, along with those of [[Shiva]] and [[Surya]] (the Sun god) are revered on the new year.<ref name="Behera1997p79">{{cite book|author=Jyoshnarani Behera|title=Political Socialization of Women: A Study of Teenager Girls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UJr97JZXJPcC&pg=PA79 |year=1997|publisher=Atlantic Publishers |isbn=978-81-85495-21-7|page=79}}</ref><ref name="sambad" />

Hindus also visit [[Devi]] (goddess) temples on Pana Sankranti. The temples include [[Taratarini Temple]] near [[Brahmapur, Odisha]] in [[Ganjam district|Ganjam]], [[Cuttack Chandi Temple|Cuttack Chandi]], [[Biraja Temple]], [[Samaleswari]] temple and [[Sarala Temple]]. At Sarala Temple the priests walk on hot coals in the fire-walking festival, Jhaamu Yatra. At the Maa Patana Mangala Temple in Chhatrapada, [[Bhadrak]], the Patua Yatra festival is held from 14 April to 21 April.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2011/apr/15/patuas-take-the-plunge-for-wish-fulfilment-244791.html |title=Patuas take the plunge for wish fulfilment |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=15 April 2011 |accessdate=8 March 2021}}</ref> In Northern Odisha, the festival is known as Chadak Parva. In Southern Odisha, the Meru Yatra festival is celebrated as the end of the month-long {{Transliteration|or|[[danda nata]]}} dance festival. Thousands of devotees gather at the [[Shakti Pitha]] shrine in the [[Taratarini Temple]] because it is one of the auspicious days during the Chaitra Yatra.

The significance of the day is that the new [[Odia calendar]] or Panjika is also introduced which is an almanac of Hindu festivals and contains the dates of festivals, auspicious days and timings, timings of sunrise and sunset along with horoscopes for the year.<ref name="opost" /><ref name="sambad" />

===Bela Pana===
[[File:Bela_pana.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Bela Pana]] is a special festive sweet drink made from milk, ripe fruit of [[Aegle marmelos|bel]] and spices, shared on Odia new year.]]
People from all over the state eat festive [[Chhatua]] and drink [[Bela Pana]] to mark the occasion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/on-pana-sankranti-know-the-significance-of-the-drink-learn-the-recipe-to-make-best-bela-pana |title=On Pana Sankranti, Know The Significance Of The Drink & Learn The Recipe To Make Best 'Bela Pana' |website=Ommcom News |date=14 April 2019 |accessdate=8 March 2021 |archive-date=12 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212083014/https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/on-pana-sankranti-know-the-significance-of-the-drink-learn-the-recipe-to-make-best-bela-pana |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/VIzXARcZUzD4XLVEkHlGWK/Harvesting-grain-making-memories.html |title=Harvesting grain, making memories |website=Livemint |date=13 April 2018 |accessdate=8 March 2021}}</ref> The Bela Pana is prepared with [[Aegle marmelos|Bael]], [[chhena]], grated coconut and fruits, spices like ginger and black pepper and sugar or jaggery.<ref name="opost" /><ref name="sambad" >{{cite news |title=Know The Significance Of Odia New Year |url=https://sambadenglish.com/know-the-significance-of-odia-new-year/ |website=Sambad |date=April 14, 2021}}</ref>

===Basundhara theki===
[[Image:Basundhara theki.jpg|thumb|right|Basundhara theki]]
An important ritual observed during Pana Sankranti is ''Basundhara theki''. A water filled earthen pot with a small hole at the end is placed at the top of the holy basil plant, so that water keeps dripping on the plant.<ref name="opost" >{{cite news |title=Maha Vishuba Sankranti along with Odia New Year celebrated with religious fervor |url=https://www.orissapost.com/maha-vishuba-sankranti-along-with-odia-new-year-celebrated-with-religious-fervor/l |website=Orissa Post |date=April 14, 2019}}</ref>

==Local celebrations==
{{main|Ghantapatua|Danda nata}}
[[Ghantapatua]]s are traditional male folk artistes from the [[Odisha]] that perform the art form "Jhama nata" during Pana Sankranti. They generally perform in a group of two or four wearing dresses that resemble women's clothing.

[[File:Bali jata Lankeswari Temple Sonepur Odisha.jpg|thumb|A group street performance on Pana Sankranti near the Lankeswari Temple, Sonepur, Odisha.]]
[[File:Danda Nacha.jpg|thumb|Danda nata, dedicated to the mother goddess starts on Pana Sankranti]]

[[Danda nata]] that is performed during this festival celebration is one of the most ancient forms of performance art of the region. The opening ritual begins in the middle of Chaitra (March – April). The performers, also known as Dandua, take dip in a village pond and walk/run over hot charcoals while performing the art. After performing {{Transliteration|or|danda nata}} they also perform {{Transliteration|or|jala danda}} by dipping themselves in deep water for a short while. These performances symbolize the liberation from physical pain. A notable climax of the social celebrations is fire-walk, where volunteers sprint over a bed of burning coal while being cheered with music and songs.<ref name=foulston178>{{cite book|author1=Lynn Foulston|author2=Stuart Abbott|title=Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs and Practices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgwVgPx5G5UC&pg=PA178|year=2009|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|isbn=978-1-902210-43-8|pages=178–181}}</ref>

==Related holidays==
This new year day is celebrated elsewhere across South and Southeast Asia which follow the related Hindu-Buddhist solar calendar traditions of [[South and Southeast Asian solar New Year]] ([[Mesha Sankranti]] and [[Songkran]]). It is known [[Vaisakhi]] across North India and Nepal and marks the beginning of the Hindu Solar New Year.<ref>Crump, William D. (2014), [https://books.google.com/books?id=cDTfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide], MacFarland, page 114</ref><ref name="PechilisRaj2013p48"/> The same day every year is also the new year for many Buddhist communities in parts of southeast Asia such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, likely an influence of their shared culture in the 1st millennium CE.<ref name="PechilisRaj2013p48">{{cite book|author1=Karen Pechilis| author2=Selva J. Raj|title= South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kaubzRxh-U0C&pg=PA48| year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-44851-2|pages=48–49}}</ref> Some examples include:

*[[Vaisakhi]] in North India and Nepal
*[[Pohela Boishakh]] in states of [[West Bengal]] and [[Bangladesh]]
*[[Bohag Bihu]] in [[Assam]]
*[[Jur Sital]] in [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]
*[[Puthandu]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]
*[[Vishu]] in [[Kerala]]
*[[Sinhalese New Year|Aluth Avuruthu]] in [[Sri Lanka]]<ref name=reeves174>{{cite book|author=Peter Reeves|title=The Encyclopedia of the Sri Lankan Diaspora |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4N5UAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA174 |year=2014|publisher=Didier Millet|isbn=978-981-4260-83-1|page=174}}</ref>
*[[Songkran (Thailand)|Songkran]] in [[Thailand]]
*[[Cambodian New Year|Chol Chnam Thmey]] in [[Cambodia]]
*[[Lao New Year|Pi Mai Lao]] in [[Laos]]
*[[Thingyan]] in [[Burma]]

However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For many others who follow the Lunar calendar, the new year falls on [[Navaratri#Chaitra Navaratri|Chaitra Navaratri]], [[Ugadi]], [[Gudi Padwa]] etc., which falls a few weeks earlier.<ref name="PechilisRaj2013p48"/> For some, such as those in and near Gujarat, the new year festivities coincide during the five day [[Diwali]] festival.

==See also==
*[[Chandaneswar]], Shiva temple in Odisha, India

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author=Robert Sewell|title=The Indian Calendar – With Tables for the Conversion of Hindu and Muhammadan Into A. D. Dates, and Vice Versa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T9z33n6Q1nwC&pg=PA149|access-date=10 November 2011|date=15 March 2010|publisher=Read Books Design|isbn=978-1-4455-3119-9|pages=149–}}

{{Odia culture}}
{{Hindu festivals}}
{{New Year by Calendar}}

[[Category:Festivals in Odisha]]
[[Category:New Year in India]]
[[Category:April observances]]
[[Category:Culture of Odisha]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]

Maha Bishuba Sankranti - Revision history

Arpan1314 at 06:15, 14 April 2026