Pana Sankranti

Pana Sankranti
Also called Maha Vishuva Sankranti
Observed by Odia people
Significance New Year in sidereal and tropical astrology
Celebrations Meru Yatra, Jhaamu Yatra, Chadak Parva
Observances Pujas, processions, eating sattu and Bela Pana
Date

Pana Sankranti (Odia: ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି), also known as Mesha Sankranti, is a holiday celebrated as the Odia New Year.[1][2][3][4]

This day marks the beginning of the New Year in the traditional Odia calendar. On this day, the sun enters the sidereal Aries or Mesha Rashi. It generally falls on the 14th or 15 April during spring when summer is approaching. The date is calculated according to sidereal and tropical astrology. Also the day is important to farming and agriculture in these places.

Maha Vishuva Sankranti is similar to the New Year festivals observed elsewhere in India, such as Vaisakhi (Punjab region), Bihu (Assam), Maithili New Year, Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh (Bengal), Bisu Parba (Tulu Nadu), Vishu (Kerala) and Puthandu (Tamil Nadu).[5]

Observances

basundhara theki(a small pot) in Maha Vishuva Sankranti

On this particular day, a small pot filled with pana, or a sweet drink of misri and water, is hung on tulsi. A hole at the bottom of the pot allows the liquid to fall from the pot, representing rain. The flour of horse gram chhatua, along with banana and curd, is consumed after offering it to the Tulsi.[6] Special offerings are made to shaligrams, linga, god Hanuman and other deities. The devi temples of Taratarini Temple near Brahmapur, Odisha in Ganjam Cuttack Chandi, Biraja, Samaleswari temple and Sarala become crowded, which is called Jhaamu Yatra. One of the major famous festival for "Patua Yatra", held at Chhatrapada from 14 April to 21 April, is Maa Patana Mangala's big festival in Bhadrak. People enjoy chana and Bela Pana. In Northern Odisha, it is known as Chadak Parva. In Southern Odisha, the day is celebrated as the end of month-long Danda nata, and the final ceremony is known as Meru Yatra. Like the famous Tuesdays in the Month of Chaitra, thousands of devotees gather at Tara Tarini Adi Shakti Pitha on this day because this is one of the auspicious days during the famous Chaitra Yatra at the Shrine. People from all over the state worship Hanuman on this day and celebrate it as his birthday, consuming chhatua and Bel Pana to mark the occasion.

Main festival

Various communities like Punjabis, Keralites, Tamilians, Odias, Bengalis and Assamese celebrate New Year with rituals and events. For the Sikh community, religious rituals are held mostly in Gurudwaras where the entire community comes together. The Tamils celebrate New Year as Vaushapirapu or Puthandu as they call it. The day is dedicated to visiting to the temple, reading and worshipping of Panchang and performing aarti. Vishu celebrations are more on a personal note in Malayali homes. The Odia families in the city gather at their community hall in Kukdey Layout during these celebrations.[7]

Main article: Danda nata
The Worshiped deity, Kali in Danda Nacha celebrated in Odisha

Danda Nacha or Danda Nata of Odisha is a tribal way of welcoming the New Year which begins with the month of Vaishakh (also known as the Danda Jatra.) Danda Jatra happens to be among one of the most ancient forms of histrionic arts of the state. The opening ritual of Danda Nacha begins in the middle of Chaitra (March - April).[8] Danda Nacha is dedicated to Goddess Kali.[9] This is one kind of group spiritual event or festival which invokes the blessings of Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva. People believe that participation in Danda Nacha means a reduction in sin, bad events in life, plentiful harvests and peace in life. Danda Nacha lasts for 13 days. At the end of the 13th day, Meru Sankranti or Pana Sankranti in Odisha.[10] takes place. The participants in Danda Nacha undergo rigorous training phases in these 13 days and become fully vegetarian i. e. they avoid eating meat, fish, onion and garlic and accept only vegetarian food during this period.

Related holidays in other cultures

It coincides with the New Years in many other Southern Asian calendars, including:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nab Kishore Behura (1978). Peasant potters of Odisha: a sociological study. Visuba Sankranti in Odisha. Sterling. p. 252. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Maha Vishuba Sankranti Odisha celebrates Maha Vishuba Sankranti with Fervor
  3. ↑ Classic Cooking of Orissa. Danda Nata. Allied Publishers. pp. 26–. ISBN 978-81-8424-584-4. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  4. ↑ Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (1995). Prakr̥ti: Primal elements, the oral tradition. Meru Day, Meru Sankranti. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. p. 172. ISBN 978-81-246-0037-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  5. ↑ Kalyan Kumar Dasgupta; P. K. Mishra (1996). Aspects of Indian history and historiography: Professor Kalyan Kumar Dasgupta felicitation volume. World wise vishuba sankranti. Kaveri Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-81-7479-009-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Odia new year. Hindu-blog. com (2007-06-06). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.
  7. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Various-communities-to-celebrate-New-Year-on-April-14-15/articleshow/46912863.cms
  8. ↑ "Danda Nacha". orissadiary.com. 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012. Danda Nacha
  9. ↑ Āśutosha Bhaṭṭācārya (1977). The sun and the serpent lore of Bengal. "Visuba Sankaratni and "Meru Sankranti" are same. Firma KLM. p. 80. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  10. ↑ Meru Sankranti at end of Danda Nata

Further reading

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