Maha Bishuba Sankranti is the first day of the month of ‘Baisakh’ as
well as the solar year. This is also called “Jala Visuva Sankranti”. In
Orissa it is known as “Pana Sankranti”, named after ‘Pana’, the main
drink offering specially prepared on this occasion.
According to the rituals, the Oriya New Year is started from this
day, which is widely popularly known as “Pana Sankranti”. All over the
country this day is considered auspicious and is celebrated with social,
cultural and religious performances. In 2013, Pana Sankranti date is on 14 April.
In Odisha, this festival is observed with great sanctity in various
forms. On this day ‘Chhatu’ (grinded corn powder), ‘Pana’ (sweet water),
umbrellas, fans (made out of palm-leaves or bamboo-strips) and ‘Paduka’
(wooden slippers) are offered to Brahmins and the poor people. All
these are the remedies for the scorching Sun. Water as the vital source
of life becomes more symbolical in another ritual of the festival. 
Above the ‘Tulasi’ plant, which is a must in every Hindu household of
Orissa, a shed is prepared with branches of green leaves and painted
pitcher of smaller size filled with water is suspended with a rope
hanger. Beneath it a small piece of straw is fixed to a hole in the
pitcher through which water is drained drop by drop on the Tulasi plant.
This festival is observed widely in some form or other in the coastal
areas, in some towns and villages of other areas as a rigorous
ritualistic observance. Deeply connected with the mass religious culture
of Orissa, a number of other festivals otherwise known as “Jhamu
Yatra”, “Hingula Yatra” or “Patua Yatra”, “Danda Yatra”, “Uda Yatra”
etc, which originated as ritualistic...( Publice by Deepak Ranjan Behera, Chandablai,Bhadra )
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