Bhubaneswar: Two days after Ram Navami and Navratri, people in Odisha are celebrating the mega festival Maha Vishuba Sankranti today. Seems like the festive mood never ends in the state, which is a land of fair and festivals.

 

Maha Vishuba Sankranti also known as Meru or Mesha Sankranti, falls on April 14 when Sun moves to the equator from north pole. Astrologers opine that on this day Sun enters the Aries (Mesha) and stays in the Rashi for one month.

The day is also known as Odia New Year. People make Panaa, a delicious and health drink made of bael (Bela), banana, raw mango, peeper, sugar, milk, cheese, and curd and pour it upon Lord Shiva and offer other deities. There is also a ritual of making Sara, a small mud pot with a hole at the bottom filled with Panaa and is hung over the holy Chaura (worshipped Basil plant). The Panaa pouring from the pot through the hole on the Basil symbolizes good rain fall for the upcoming Raisny season.

The day is also called as 'Panaa Sankranti'. People enjoy the drink mixing a little amount of Bhang into the drink and celebrate the festival with family, friends and relatives in a big manner.

The festive mood starts one month before during the Chaitra month as per the Hindu calendar. People in villages organise folk dances and spend whole night to make the auspicious day divine as per their belief.

In some parts of the state, Danda Yatra and Jhamu Yatra are organised for one month in many Devi temples. The period is known as sacred and during the period mother power impacts more. Panna Sankranti is also celebrated at Maa Hingula in Talcher, Maa Tarini in Keonjhar, Maa Manikeswari in Kalahandi, Maa Mangala in Kakatpur and Bhairavi in Berhampur.

During Jhamu Ytara, people observing 'Brata' walk on thorns and fire. Those who walk on fire are known as 'Nian Patua' and those on thorns are called 'Kanta Patuas'. Some devotees stand on the edge of swords and they are called ‘Khanda Patuas’. Some show their extra-ordinary skills in deep water and they are called 'Pani Patuas'. These rituals are related to Tantra culture and done seeking the benevolence of divine Goddess Shakti.

The Sankranti is also the New Year (Chitirai Vishu or Puthandu or Varsha Pirapu) for Tamil, (Poila Baisakh) for Bengali and (Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu) for Assamese.

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