Odia New Year celebrated with fervour

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, April 14: People celebrated the Odia New Year across Odisha on the occasion of Pana Sankrati or Maha Vishuba Sankranti in a traditional way by visiting various temples on Tuesday.People greeted each other by exchanging Odia New Year Greetings in person, over phone or through various social media networks.Maha Vishuba Sankranti marks the beginning of the New Year in the traditional Hindu Solar Calendar when the Sun enters the sidereal Aries or Mesha Rashi.At every home, people prepared Pana, a special drink prepared with Bela, banana and other fruits mixed with milk, crud, sugar etc.The drink, better known as Bela Pana was also distributed among the people at various temples and Vishuba Milana ceremonies across the State.At home, the people also made arrangements near their Tulasi Chaura (where the Tulsi plant is worshipped every day, to ensure watering of the plant for the whole month. The day also marks the conclusion of Chaitra Parba celebrated by people in many regions of Odisha.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of Maha Vishuba Sankrati and Odia New Year.“Wishing all my Odia sisters and brothers on Maha Vishuba Sankranti.I pray for a wonderful year ahead, full of prosperity and joy,” the Prime Minister twitted.Maha Vishuba Sankranti is also celebrated as the New Year as Baisakhi in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, Juir Sheetal in Mithila, Naba Barsha or Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal, Bisu Parba in Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka, Vishu in Kerala, and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu.