Bhubaneswar: As the golden rays of the April sun gently bathe the eastern skies of Odisha, the state prepares to welcome Pana Sankranti, marking the beginning of Odia New Year.
This annual observance, deeply rooted in the agrarian and spiritual ethos of the region, is not just a festive date on the calendar but a time-honoured celebration of life, nature, and cosmic rhythm.
On this day, Odia people make a special drink called ‘pana’. It is made using water, jaggery, curd, and fruits. The drink helps us to stay cool during the hot summer. People also hang a small earthen pot with a hole in it over the Tulsi plant. Water drips slowly from the pot to the plant, showing love and care for nature. This small act teaches us the value of water and how we should protect our environment. These customs reflect the deep connection between Odia culture and the environment, blending faith with sustainability.
Another very important aspect of Pana Sankranti is the Odia Panjika. This is a traditional calendar that tells us about the position of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. It helps us know the right time for festivals, pujas, fasts, and even family events like marriages. One of the most popular Panjikas in Odisha is the Radharaman Panjika, which families and temple priests refer to almost daily.
Radharaman Pustakalaya is one of the oldest publishing house of the state established in the year 1898. Radharaman Pustakalaya or Radharaman Press holds accolades and exclusive publishing rights of Valmiki Ramayana, Mahabharata, Geeta, Siba Purana, Scanda Purana translated by the founding member, Pandit Ratnakar Gargabatu.
Radharaman Pustakalaya continues to publish many of these epics and have a strong distribution base across Odisha and also India through Amazon, Flipkart and local marketplaces. These are also exported to Odia diaspora living in the USA, UK. Currently managed by Subrat Garabadu, who attends the meeting with Puri Shankracharya & Mukti Mandap Sabhapati along with other members who validates the dates and calculations to be ritually followed across everyday at Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri. Since past many decades, Radharaman Pustakalaya Panjika has been the only registered Panjika at Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri.
The three Panjikas published by Radharaman Pustakalaya are Bisudha Khadiratna Panjika, Biraja Panjika & Samanta Panjika.
Even in today’s digital age, the relevance of the Panjika has not waned. It has gracefully adapted to modern needs—available now as mobile apps and online platforms—ensuring that younger generations remain connected to their roots.
Panjikas contain meticulous astronomical calculations, daily tithis (lunar dates), sunrise and sunset timings, and guidelines for observing religious fasts, festivals, and rituals. For many, especially priests and astrologers, it is more than just a calendar—it’s a spiritual compass that aligns human life with cosmic movements. Panjika until date is duly followed for finalisation of time weddings, naming ceremonies, and even when to sow seeds in the field.
As Odisha ushers in the new year, Pana Sankranti stands as a timeless celebration reminder of resilience, sustainability, and spiritual consciousness—a bridge between the celestial and the everyday, grounded in the pages of the Panjika. It is a day when the spiritual, ecological, and astronomical worlds converge, with the Panjika guiding the way, just as it has for countless generations.
Pana Sankranti is also celebrated as the birthday of Lord Hanuman. Devotees throng temples and offer prayers on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanati. Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and Maa Tarini Temple in Ghatagaon, witnesses large crowds on this day. In villages, people take part in traditional dances like Danda Nata to please the gods and bring good luck. Cultural organisations and schools use this day as an opportunity to promote Odia language, literature, and identity, weaving tradition into the fabric of contemporary life.
To buy Panjika online visit – www.astronext.ai
Or Send “Hi” on WhatsApp at 7077552322
Or click on this link to start instant chat
https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=7077552322&text=Namaskar&type=phone_number&app_absent=0
