Maha Vishuba Sankranti, also known as Pana Sankranti or Mesha Sankranti, marks the traditional New Year of the Odia people in Odisha. This day also coincides with Hanuman Jayanti, celebrated uniquely in Odisha, with devotees visiting temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, and Surya (the Sun God) to offer prayers and seek blessings for the year ahead.

Celebrations and Rituals

Maha Vishuba Sankranti blends personal devotion with vibrant community celebrations.​​​​​​​

The Pana:

Central to the festival is the preparation of Pana, a ceremonial cooling drink made from bilva (wood apple/bael) pulp, coconut gratings, and cottage cheese, seasoned with ginger and black pepper. The drink is first offered to deities and then shared as prasad among family, neighbors, and visitors, symbolizing goodwill and community spirit.

The Tulsi Puja Ritual:

A small earthen pitcher with a hole at the bottom is suspended over the Tulsi (holy basil) plant, dripping water continuously to symbolize cooling the earth and praying for timely rains. The plant is also given a small canopy of leaves to protect it from the summer heat.

Chhatua and River Baths:

Families consume horse gram flour (chhatua) with banana and curd after offering it to the Tulsi plant. Ritual baths in rivers and visits to pilgrimage centers are performed for spiritual purification, marking the start of the New Year clean in body and spirit.

Danda Nata:

A month-long festival culminating on Maha Vishuba Sankranti, Danda Nata showcases performers called Danduas who engage in physically demanding acts such as dipping in village ponds, walking on hot coals, and jala danda (briefly submerging in deep water). In Southern Odisha, the festival concludes with the Meru Yatra ceremony.

Fairs and Community Events:

Communities across Odisha organize melas (fairs) featuring traditional dance, acrobatics, local crafts, and food. Literary events, poetry readings, and cultural programs are highlights, especially in cities like Cuttack.

Places to visit during Maha Vishuba Sankranti

Taratarini Temple, Berhampur:

Devotees flock to the Shakti Pitha shrine, with a fair organized nearby for festival-goers.

Cuttack:

Temples host the Jhaamu Yatra procession. Cultural and literary programs attract visitors from across Odisha.

Maa Patana Mangala Temple, Chhatrapada, Bhadrak:

The Patua Yatra festival is celebrated from April 14 to 21, drawing devotees seeking blessings from the Goddess.

Chandaneswar Temple, Balasore:

Devotees visit this Shiva temple during the festival, enjoying the annual fair and spiritual rituals.

Sarala Temple:

Famous for the Jhaamu Yatra, a fire-walking festival where priests walk on hot coals—a dramatic and spiritually charged spectacle.