Covid-19 Casts Shadow On Pana Sankranti Celebrations In Odisha

Puri: In view of the sudden surge in coronavirus cases in Odisha, Maha Vishuba Sankranti popularly known as Pana Sankranti is being celebrated across the State today in a low-key manner with all Covid-19 restrictions in place.

Devotees are barred from visiting temples at several places in the State apprehending further contamination of the disease. However, all the rituals are being observed at the shrines with limited number of servitors.

As per the order of the district administration, section 144 of IPC has been imposed at the famous Siruli Mahaveer temple in Chandanpur of Puri district. The restrictions have been clamped keeping in view of the heavy rush at the temple on the occasion Pana Sankranti on Wednesday. The prohibitory order will be enforced in the temple from 4 am in the morning of April 14 till the next day.

Earlier yesterday, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had issued guidelines imposing restrictions on Pana Sankranti celebrations.

The Civic Body has prevented gathering at different religious places. As per the guidelines, residents of Bhubaneswar will not be able to celebrate Pana Sankranti publicly and can’t distribute ‘Pana’ to others.

The rituals of Pana Sankranti can be observed only at shrines and other religious places and the temple priests can conduct the puja within the temple premises. However, participation of common man in the celebration is completely restricted, the guidelines said.

Meanwhile, top leaders from across the country including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took the opportunity to wish people on the occasion of Maha Vishuba Sankranti.

Happy Odia New Year! pic.twitter.com/PPjo1smM8e

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2021

ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ତଥା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ନବ ବର୍ଷ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଓ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ଅପାର କରୁଣାରୁ ଏ କଠିନ ସମୟ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଦୂର ହେବା ସହ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ସୁଖ, ସମୃଦ୍ଧିରେ ଭରିଯାଉ। pic.twitter.com/OcN8hEW4IM

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 14, 2021

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ନବବର୍ଷ ଏବଂ ମହା ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା | ମହାପ୍ରଭୂ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଭରି ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 14, 2021

Greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of New Year celebrated across the country as ‘Maha Bishuba’ #PanaSankranti, #RongaliBihu, #Vishu, & #Puthandu
May this year turn around & solve the challenges of the last, bring good health, happiness, & prosperity to all 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/8vXaF9yKpB

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) April 14, 2021

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ନବ ବର୍ଷ ତଥା ପବିତ୍ର ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ । ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ମଙ୍ଗଳ କାମନା କରୁଛି ।
🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/pvthqW8EiP

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 14, 2021

(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)