The reason the day is observed is that it is the first day of the solar year. Only on this day, the Sun fully rests on the equator on two occasions namely 'Mesha Sankranti' and 'Tula Sankranti'
13 April 2020 Current Affairs:Maha Bishuba Pana Sankranti is celebrated as the Odia New Year on 13 April. Pana Sankranti begins on 13 April every year. The day is named after "Pana", a drink offering. The day is celebrated with great joy, social, cultural and religious performances.
Pana Sankranti:
♦ The reason the day is observed is that it is the first day of the solar year. Only on this day, the Sun fully rests on the equator on two occasions namely 'Mesha Sankranti' and 'Tula Sankranti'. After Mesha Sankranti, the Sun moves in the northern direction to the side where India is situated to the north of the equator. Hence from this day of the first movement of the Sun from Mesha Sankranti that the New Year is counted.
♦ As per the tradition of Odia, the Pana Sankranti is believed to be the birthday of the Hindu deity Hanuman. His loving devotion to Vishnu avatar Rama in Ramayana is legendary. His temples, along with those of Shiva and Surya (the sun god) are revered in the new year. Hindus also visit Devi temples on Pana Sankranti.
Celebrations:
♦ On this day, people use a small pot filled with "pana" or a sweet drink of Mishri and water is hung on a basil (Tulsi) plant. A hole is made at the bottom of the pot which allows the water to fall from the pot, representing rain.
♦ The festival is observed widely in the coastal areas, in some towns and villages of other areas as a rigorous ritualistic observance in Odisha.
♦ Other festivals are otherwise known as Jharnu Yatra, Hingula Yatra or Patua Yatra, Danda Yatra, Uda Yatra culminate in the Bishuba Sankranti.
Note:
Other New Year festivals celebrated in India are Baisakhi in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, Juir Sheetal in Mithila, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Bisu Parba in Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka, Vishu in Kerala, and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu.
Pana Sankranti:
♦ The reason the day is observed is that it is the first day of the solar year. Only on this day, the Sun fully rests on the equator on two occasions namely 'Mesha Sankranti' and 'Tula Sankranti'. After Mesha Sankranti, the Sun moves in the northern direction to the side where India is situated to the north of the equator. Hence from this day of the first movement of the Sun from Mesha Sankranti that the New Year is counted.
♦ As per the tradition of Odia, the Pana Sankranti is believed to be the birthday of the Hindu deity Hanuman. His loving devotion to Vishnu avatar Rama in Ramayana is legendary. His temples, along with those of Shiva and Surya (the sun god) are revered in the new year. Hindus also visit Devi temples on Pana Sankranti.
Celebrations:
♦ On this day, people use a small pot filled with "pana" or a sweet drink of Mishri and water is hung on a basil (Tulsi) plant. A hole is made at the bottom of the pot which allows the water to fall from the pot, representing rain.
♦ The festival is observed widely in the coastal areas, in some towns and villages of other areas as a rigorous ritualistic observance in Odisha.
♦ Other festivals are otherwise known as Jharnu Yatra, Hingula Yatra or Patua Yatra, Danda Yatra, Uda Yatra culminate in the Bishuba Sankranti.
Note:
Other New Year festivals celebrated in India are Baisakhi in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, Juir Sheetal in Mithila, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Bisu Parba in Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka, Vishu in Kerala, and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu.