Pana Sankranti: Prepare traditional drink 'Pana' on Odia New Year; check recipe, health benefits

Pana Sankranti, the Odia New Year, is celebrated with rituals, prayers, and a special cooling drink called ‘Pana’. 

This sweet, refreshing beverage not only holds cultural and religious importance but also helps beat the scorching summer heat.

Here’s how you can prepare this traditional Odia drink at home and learn about its benefits.

Also Read: Pana Sankranti: Celebrating Odia New Year with tradition and modernity in Odisha

What is Pana?

Pana is a traditional Odia drink prepared during Pana Sankranti using natural ingredients like wood apple (Bela), grated coconut, cottage cheese (chhena), banana, black pepper, and jaggery. 

It is poured slowly from an earthen pot over a Tulsi (holy basil) plant as a symbolic offering and later shared among friends and family.

Ingredients for Pana:

• 1 ripe wood apple (Bela)
• 1–2 tbsp grated coconut
• 2–3 tbsp grated cottage cheese (chhena)
• 1 small banana (optional)
• 1–2 tbsp jaggery or sugar
• A pinch of black pepper
• 2 cups chilled water
• Ice cubes (optional)

How to Prepare Pana:

• Break the wood apple and scoop out the pulp into a bowl.
• Add water and strain the mixture to remove seeds and fibers.
• In the strained pulp, add grated coconut, chhena, mashed banana, jaggery or sugar, and a pinch of black pepper.
• Mix everything well and adjust the water to get your preferred consistency.
• Serve chilled, optionally with ice cubes.

Health Benefits of Pana:

Cooling Effect: Helps regulate body temperature during hot summer months.

Digestive Aid: Wood apple and black pepper support digestion.

Nutritious: Rich in vitamins, natural sugars, and healthy fats from coconut and chhena.

Hydration: Keeps the body hydrated and replenishes lost electrolytes.

Also Read: Odia New Year begins with festive spirit of Pana Sankranti, Hanuman Jayanti; special rituals

Celebrated with devotion and joy, Pana Sankranti showcases Odisha ’s deep-rooted cultural traditions. Preparing and sharing Pana not only honours this heritage but also offers a natural remedy for summer.

Try making this refreshing drink at home and celebrate the spirit of the Odia New Year with health and happiness.