List of Lunar And Solar Indian New Year Days #RasagolaA2Z

Our country is celebrating the Hindu New Year festivals now. In our vast country, famous for its diversity, many days are celebrated as New Year Days in different parts. The observance is based on the calendar followed by the region- whether lunar or solar calendar.

For the regions that follow the Solar calendar, the new year falls in the month of Vaishakha or April in the calendar:

- Baisakhi in North and Central India, 

- Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu in Assam, 

- Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, 

- Vishu in Kerala, 

- Pana Sankranti in Odisha (celebrated in Chaitra month)

- Poila Boishakh in Bengal 

For the regions that follow Lunar calendar, the new year is celebrated on the first day in the month of Chaitra (corresponding to March-April):

- Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka 

- Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. 

In many parts of India, New Year Celebrations begin in the spring.

Please refer to this webpage for the full list of lunar and solar Indian New Year Days along with the usual dates for celebration.

Today, April 14th is the Odia Naba Barsa i.e. the Odia New Year, also called Mahabishuba Sankranti or Pana Sankranti.

A deliciously refreshing drink called Pana is prepared. 

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As this special drink is usually prepared using the pulp of a fruit named Bael (stone apple or wood apple called Bela in Odia), it is called Bela Pana. 

You can watch this video to see the preparation process of Pana-

Happy #OdiaNewYear2021 ! Happy #PanaaSankranti!Celebrate by drinking refreshing #Panaa ପଣା & wearing best of #Odisha #handlooms on every occasion as always!#GudiPadwa #ugadi #Baisakhi #navratri #Bihu2021 #PoilaBaisakh #Vishu #mahabisubasankranti #NewYear #HinduNewYear @BBSRBuzz pic.twitter.com/dJx3fW6yxK

— Utkalamrita (@Utkalamrita) April 14, 2021

Many ingredients like water, chhena (cottage-cheese), curd, ripe banana, ripe mango, cashew, grated coconut, cardomom powder, black pepper powder, jaggery or sugar, other fruits and sweets like Boondi, Rasagola etc. are added to the Bael fruit pulp. 

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The healthy drink is first offered to the deities and then had and distributed amongst family and friends. It is a natural energy booster and a great way to welcome the new year.

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I agree that it is tough to showcase our vast land's diverse celebrations.

However, in many images and articles, there is stereotyping and representation of those that are more popular, vocal, and famous... and omission of certain others like the Pana Sankranti of Odisha as in the map shown in the above image. (The above image is just a single example of representation where Odisha's identity has not been shown; rather Rasagola / Rasgulla, which originated in Odisha, has been shown as a part of the neighbouring state.)

This has been happening for the past several decades now and hence the association of Rasagola with Odisha is yet to be known by many.

Let us take the cosmopolitan city Bengaluru for example. 

There are Ugadi / Ugaadi special shopping advertisements in the media and online.

Truly a colourful depiction. 

However, do note that apart from the New Year Days of some other states, Odisha's Pana Sankranti too is missing. As usual, there is a depiction of Rasagola's association with Bengal.

This writer is looking forward to seeing the representation of Pana Sankranti with a glass of Pana and a pot full of Rasagola in future images and advertisements.

As per the article- "Saris to rock for your traditional New Year celebrations" published on the Page-2, Bangalore Times, dated- 13 April 2021:

"India's regional New Years - Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Poila Biasakh and Baisakhi are here and all the ladies must be deciding on the outfits that they can wear for the occasion."

As we can see, the article has given the names of the four most "popular" or "well-known" celebrations - each belonging to a different zone and so we have representation from South, West, East & North respectively. The article then names some "types of saris you can sport on the special day." There are no prizes for guessing that not a single sari of Odisha has been featured (though Odisha has many types of handlooms, many of which have earned the GI tags.)

My point is- If a place is not represented, how will people know about it? 

Taking into consideration such images, articles, and representation, when a place is not mentioned and its identity is not showcased, then it is not seen, and hence not known.

Thus, Odisha is "India's Best Kept Secret".

There is a sizeable Odia population in Bangalore.

As per Wikipedia, apart from the native communities, the migrant communities of Bengaluru are-

Maharashtrians, Punjabis, Rajasthanis, Gujaratis, Tamilians, Telugus, Malayalis, Odias, Sindhis, and Bengalis.

As per this news report:

While migrants from neighbouring states continue to be the largest group among migrants from other states, there is a disproportionate perception of the size of migrant communities from northern and eastern states as their numbers are increasing faster than others. Tamil Nadu continues to be the largest contributor to the migrant pool in Bengaluru. However, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, in that order, have seen a dramatic increase in their contribution to that pool. Eighty seven per cent of all Odia migrants came in the last census decade (2001-11). The corresponding figures for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were 79 and 81%.

Odia festivals and representation in posts and images as mentioned above, needs attention. 

Just because something is not mentioned or people do not know, does not mean that it does not exist or is not true.

No matter what the celebration, all are most welcome to celebrate with the 'king of sweets' Rasagola and of course, Bela Pana.

#IndianCuisine Bela Pana is a traditional summer drink of #Odisha. Usually prepared for Pana Shankranti, it is a deliciously intriguing drink combining woody apple/bela pulp, grated coconut, cottage cheese, banana, jaggery etc. Also offered as prasad at Lord Jaganath temple. pic.twitter.com/bv9rIjxiBb

— India In Medan (@indiainmedan) September 23, 2020

Today, on the occasion of the Odia New Year, the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri, Odisha, has been decorated.

ପବିତ୍ର ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ତଥା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ନବବର୍ଷ ପାଳନ ଅବସରରେ ଅଗଣିତ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥପ୍ରେମୀ ଭକ୍ତ ଏବଂ ସମଗ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିର ପ୍ରଶାସନ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ଏହି ନବବର୍ଷରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁଖ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ନିମନ୍ତେ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଆମର ବିନମ୍ର ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା। pic.twitter.com/gV71qCvcXx

— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) April 14, 2021

Apart from the other dishes, special prasad are Pana, Gheudi and Enduri. Chhena dishes like Rasagola have been associated for centuries with the Shree Jagannath Temple.

Happy New Year! Enjoy!

I’m participating in the April #A2ZChallenge #BlogchatterA2Z

L For- List, Lunar

I am writing A-Z posts about Rasagola- 26 Rasgulla posts this April.

This sincere attempt is to share information about Rasagola/Rasgulla.

Rasagola is a part of Odisha's traditional knowledge, continuing tradition, cultural heritage and identity.  

You can check out my other Rasagola posts here.
This is my fifth #A2Z Challenge, and my last four challenges have been about Odisha, India. 

My previous #AToZChallenge posts here.

Are you aware of Rasagola/Rasgulla? Did you know that the Rasgulla originated in Odisha? 

Please do share any information about Rasgulla that you may have and that you feel must be documented and shared so that all are aware.