Bhubaneswar: The people of Odisha today celebrated Maha Vishuva Sankranti and the Odia New Year by exchanging greetings and offering pujas in temples across the state.
Maha Vishuva Sankranti is similar to New Year festivals like Baisakhi (Punjab region), Bihu (Assam), Maithili New Year, Naba Barsha or Poila Boishakh (Bengal), Vishu (Kerala) and Puthandu (Tamil Nadu).
The day also marked special pujas at Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri where the newly prepared almanac was read before the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished the people of the state on Odia New Year.
"On Maha Vishuva Sankranti I extend my good wishes to all Odia people. I pray for an exceptional year ahead, filled with happiness and success," Modi tweeted.
"Extend my greetings and best wishes on Maha Vishuva Sankranti and Odia New Year," Patnaik tweeted. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram also conveyed their greetings on the micro-blogging site.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) also approved four Odia 'Panjis' (almanac) for 2016-17 on the occasion of the Sankrati.
"The temple administration has approved four panjis for this year. The panjis are Radha Ratna Bisudha Khadi Panjika, Bhagya Jyoti, Odisha Kohinoor Press Panjika and Samanta Chandra Sekhar Panjika," Sudipta Chatterjee, SJTA public relation officer (PRO), said.
According to the Odia panjis, which were prepared much before the IMD's prediction of a good monsoon this time, said Odisha will experience rainfall as per expectation and the agriculture sector would witness growth.
This apart, the state would also witness growth in the field of education and health this year, the panjis had stated.