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Saturday, 13 April 2024

Odia New Year: Pana Sankranti - Mahabishuba Sankranti

The Odia New Year is called Pana Sankranti or Mahabishuba Sankranti.

Details about Pana Sankranti are in my previous blog posts here.

This time let us all ensure correct representation in our social media posts.


As per the Purnachandra Odia Bhashakosha, an Odisha encyclopedia- a monumental 7-volume work of about 9,500 pages published between 1930 and 1940 by an illustrious son of Odisha, Sri Gopal Chandra Praharaj (1874-1945):

 ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି— Bishuba Samkrāntiସଂ. ବି—ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବର୍ଷକରେ ଯେଉଁ ଦିନଦ୍ୱୟ ବିଷୁବ ରେଖା ଉପରେ ଗମନ କରନ୍ତି; ତହିଁର ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଦ୍ୱୟ; ଜଳବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଓ ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ବର୍ଷକରେ ଯେଉଁ ଦିନଦ୍ୱୟ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପ୍ରଥମେ ଯଥା— କ୍ରମେ ମେଷ ରାଶିକୁ ଓ ତୁଳ ରାଶିକୁ ସଂକ୍ରମଣ (ଗମନ) କରନ୍ତି—The two Saṁkrānti days in the year falling after the equinoxes; the passage of the sun to the next sign at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes; the passage of the sun to the first points of Aries and Libra after the vernal and autumnal equinoxes; the equinoxial passage (Apte).
ବିଷୁବ— Bishuba3। ମେଷ ବା ବୈଶାଖ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି—3. The Saṁkrānti or the 1st day of the month of solar Ba̲i̱ṡākha; the first point of Aries which the sun enters after the vernal equinox (Apte).

From the explanation given in the Bhashakosha, it is clearly evident that there are two types of Bishuba Sankranti-

ମେଷ ବା ବୈଶାଖ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି— The Saṁkrānti or the 1st day of the month of solar Ba̲i̱ṡākha; the first point of Aries which the sun enters after the vernal equinox (Apte).andତୁଳ ବା କାର୍ତ୍ତିକ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ଗର୍ଭଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ଜଳ ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି— The Saṁkrānti or the 1st day of the month of solar Kārttika; the first point of Libra which the sun enters after the autumnal equinox.

1) Mesha or Baisakha Sankranti; Pana Sankranti; Mahabishuba Sankranti

2) Tula or Kartika Sankranti; Garbhana Sankranti; Jala Bishuba Sankranti

The Baisakha Sankranti is celebrated as the Odia New Year.

Thus, the term "Mahabishuba Sankranti" should be used to refer to the Odia New Year.

Simply using "Bishuba" or "Bishuba Sankranti" is not the correct representation.


Many are using multiple English spellings of Mahabhishuba viz-

Maha Bishuba

Mahavisuva

Mahabishuva 

Maha Bishuva

Maha Visuva 

Maha Vishubha 

Mahavishubha 

... and many other such spellings 


Note:

In the word "Mahabishuba"- ମହାବିଷୁବ, there is "ba"-ବ and no "bha"-ଭ- So, it should be "shuba" and not "shubha"/"shuva" in the English spelling.

Also, there is no space between Maha-ମହା and Bishuba-ବିଷୁବ 


In the past, I have made these mistakes and was never sure which English spelling to write.

I often used to wonder what is the correct spelling of Mahabishuba Sankranti, and I am so glad to finally write this confidently.

Referring to the Purnachandra Odia Bhashakosha:

 ମହାବିଷୁବ— Mahābishuba(ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି—ଅନ୍ଯରୂପ)ସଂ. ବି. (ମହତ୍+ବିଷୁବ=ମେଷ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି)—ପଣାସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ବୈଶାଖ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ରବିଙ୍କର ମେଶରାଶିକୁ ସଂକ୍ରମଣ— The sun's entry into the sign of Aries; the vernal equinox.[ଦ୍ର—ଏହି ଦିବସଠାରୁ ସୌରମାନ ବର୍ଷର ପ୍ରଥମ ଗଣନା ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୁଏ; ଏହା ସୌରବୈଶାଖର ପ୍ରଥମ ଦିବସ ଓ ଏହିଠାରୁ ନୂତନ ଶକାବ୍ଦ ଗଣନାର ଆରମ୍ଭ।]

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Unlike some other regional New Year, "Pana Sankranti" or "Mahabishuba Sankranti" is relatively lesser known.

When there is inclusion of representation and information is shared, then more can be aware.

For the last couple of years and days, this writer has been requesting "India's Largest English Newspaper" to also include "Pana Sankranti" on the mastheads of its various publications and editions.

Pana Sankranti must also be mentioned.

This request is being shared-


This writer has also sent the following letter to them via email:

-------------Start of letter------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub: Representation of Pana Sankranti on your Masthead on April 14th 2024

Odisha celebrates Odia Nababarsa i.e. Odia New Year on April 14th each year. 
It is "Mahabishuba Sankranti" and also called - "Pana Sankranti".
A delicious refreshing traditional drink called Pana is prepared, offered to deities & served to all.

Indian Hindu New Year is being beautifully showcased on the Masthead of both the main TOI edition, and also with the supplements of various cities e.g. Bhubaneswar Times, Bangalore Times etc along with other Times Group publications like Bangalore Mirror etc each year. 
Articles are also being published.

However, though the names of celebrations of various states are included, Pana Sankranti has been missing from your list and is not being mentioned at all for the last couple of years.

We have been trying to bring this to your notice.


Tweets shared this year-

This year for the April 14th 2024 edition of the TOI and other Times Group publications (like Bangalore Mirror etc), please also include Pana Sankranti on your respective Mastheads.
Along with a glass of Pana, please also show a pot of Rasagola (Rasgulla).

We hope to see inclusion & representation of the Odia New Year too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------End of Letter---------------

The date of Pana Sankranti mentioned everywhere is- April 14. 

As per the calendars, Pana Sankranti is on April 14 this year.


The Pana Sankranti date is celebrated on the tithi and the date is usually April 14th.

This year too, the tithi day falls on April 14th.

However, some are celebrating Pana Sankranti today on April 13th after a Court case-

April 13 is Baisakhi- Punjabi New Year too. Also, it is the foundation day of Odisha's capital city- Bhubaneswar.

This writer spoke to an esteemed Shreemandira Sebayat, Sri Biswanath Samantara, who is the President of Badu Suara Nijog.

He said-

"For hundreds of years, Puri Shreemandira i.e. the Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri has been observing many festivals and events as per the tithi date. We follow as per the 'dharmiya karjya ganana' (religious works calculations) and fix days/dates/time and celebrate based on the Surjya-Chandra stithi (position of the sun and moon). For festivals, we have our own ganana and that varies from the days/dates declared by other places. We calculate based on the sunrise timing. Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu has many Sebayats who perform various tasks in th Shreemandira. Each day, the Naahaaka Sebaka (called Abadaana in the temple) do the daily ganana during the Abakasa Puja (Snana Abhisheka time). Those are consulted and all the ritual works are done as per the tithi, baara and samaya (Tithi, Day & Time). Each month, we have a calendar based on their calculations. The sunrise time at Puri varies from the Indian Standard Time (IST) and the International standard. The dates/days vary. Others celebrate the same festival on a different date or time as compared to Shreemandira."

He added-

"The Odia Panji starts on Pana Sankranti. It is very auspicious with new beginnings."

Here is wishing everyone an auspicious start:

Subha Nababarsa - Auspicious New Year!

May Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha bless everyone.

Jaya Shree Jagannatha

Did you know about the Odia New Year?

Have you tasted Pana before? Please share in the comments below.

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2 comments:

Your words mean a lot to me.