Odisha celebrates Maha Bishuv Sankranti

Bhubaneswar: Odisha today celebrated New Year by observing Maha Bishuv Sankranti, popularly known as "Pana" Sankranti while devotees also performed pujas on occasion of the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman.

Since new Odia almanac comes into effect from today, people in large numbers were seen thronging to temples to have a darshan of deities. Special pujas were also performed at Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The temples of Lord Hanuman across the state too witnessed beeline of devotees since morning to have `darshan` of the deity.

At home, people use a small pot filled with "pana" or a sweet drink of Mishri and water is hung on a basil (Tulsi) plant. There is a hole at the bottom of this pot which allows the water to fall from the pot, representing rain.

The flour of horse gram chhatua, along with banana and curd, is consumed by the people of Odisha after offering it to the Tulsi plant.

Maha Bishuv Sankranti in Odisha is similar to the New Year festivals observed as `Baisakhi` in Punjab, `Chaitro Sankranti` in Bengal to ring in the first day of Baisakh and in other places.

The sun enters the sidereal Aries or `Mesha Rashi` this day which generally falls on April 14 or 15.