'Wrong information' in Odia almanacs stokes controversy 

Controversy has erupted over alleged wrong information in Odia almanacs known as panjis or panjikas. 

For the coming year, several calendars have been published, but they differ on the information regarding the date of Pana Sankranti or the Odia New Year. 

Since 2024 is a leap year, February will be a month of 29 days and the year will have 366 days. However, some calendars have mentioned 2024 with 365 days. 

 “A major mistake has been found out in several calendars. While some calendars mention April 12, 2024 as the last day of the Odia year, some others mention April 13, 2024 as the last day of the Odia year. Since 2024 is a leap year, there will be 29 days in February month. In the leap year, the Pana Sankranti falls on April 13 ( it means April 12 will be the last day of the Odia New Year). However, some calendars considering April 14 as Pana Sankranti is not reasonable. Those who have done this are misguiding people,” alleged almanac expert, Harishankar Mishra. 

Odia calendar will be introduced on April 14 this year and as per the tradition, nahaka (astrologer) reads out the calendar on Dola Purnima before the deity. The Panjika has all information regarding festivals, sunrise, sunset, marriage dates, sacred dates for thread ceremony and how the year will be for 12 zodiac signs, for the state and the country. 

The calendar experts have urged that the mistakes should be rectified before their implementation. 

No response from the concerned calendar publishers has been received.

(Reported by Madhusudan Mishra, OTV)