Maha Bisubha Sakranti is one of the most significant festivals celebrated in the Indian state of Odisha. The festival, also known as Odia Nutan Barsha, Pana Sankranti, Hanuman Jayanti, Pana Parba, and Shri Radharamandeba Jayanti, marks the beginning of the New Year according to the traditional Odia calendar. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Baisakh, which usually falls on April 14th .
The festival is a time of great joy and celebration for the people of Odisha, who engage in various rituals and traditions to usher in the New Year with positivity and good fortune. The festival has deep roots in the cultural, religious, and spiritual traditions of the region, and it reflects the diversity and richness of the Odia people.
One of the most significant aspects of Maha Bisubha Sakranti is the emphasis on promoting good health, good fortune, and virtue. The festival encourages people to fast and engage in acts of generosity and charity, such as giving water to thirsty people, which is believed to please the departed souls of ancestors and the Gods in heaven.
The festival is also a time for people to come together as a community and celebrate their shared culture and traditions. People visit temples and offer prayers to various deities, including Lord Jagannath, Lord Shiva, Hanuman, and others. The act of visiting temples and offering prayers is a way for people to connect with their spiritual side and seek blessings for the New Year ahead.
Another important aspect of Maha Bisubha Sakranti is the emphasis on living in harmony with nature and respecting the environment. The festival encourages people to offer water to the Holy Banyan Tree (Aswatatha), Holy Basil Plant (Tulsi), and Shaligram, which are considered sacred in Hinduism. The act of offering water to these plants is a way to show respect for nature and the environment and to promote the idea of “Basudeba Kutumbkam,” which means the world is one family.
One of the most unique and fascinating traditions associated with Maha Bisubha Sakranti is the practice of hanging a pot of pana, a sweet drink made from mishri and water, on a basil plant. The pot has a hole at the bottom, which allows the water to fall from the pot, symbolizing rain. The act of hanging the pot on the basil plant and allowing the water to fall is a way to show gratitude for the essential role that rain plays in agriculture and the overall well-being of the community.
Another interesting tradition associated with Maha Bisubha Sakranti is the consumption of chhatua, a nutritious food made from horse gram flour, banana, and curd. Chhatua is believed to have cultural and nutritional significance, and it is often consumed after offering it to the Tulsi plant.
The celebration of Maha Bisubha Sakranti is a testament to the rich and diverse culture and traditions of the Odia people. The festival is an opportunity for people to come together, celebrate their shared heritage, and promote the values of kindness, generosity, and respect for nature and the environment. The festival is a time for people to connect with their spiritual side, seek blessings for the New Year, and engage in acts of charity and compassion towards others.
Legends
According to tradition when ‘Bhishma’, the grandfather of ‘Kurus’ or ‘Kauravas’ and the ‘Pandavas’ lay on the bed of arrows (‘Shara Sajya’) he felt thirsty and there was no water nearby in the ravaged battle-field of ‘Kurukshetra’. Then ‘Arjuna’ with his powerful bow thrusted an arrow deep into the ground and water immediately came out in a stream to quenc h the thirst of the dying warrior. Out of contentment and compassion Bhishma conferred to ‘Yudhisthira’, “Those people who would offer cold water to thirsty people on this day would not only be free from all sins, but also the departed souls of their ancestors as well as the Gods in heaven would be pleased.” This saying of the holy scripture is observed with great reverence and people all over the country offer sweet-water to thirsty people as a religious rite.
In conclusion, Maha Bisubha Sakranti is a unique and fascinating festival that reflects the cultural, religious, and spiritual traditions of the Odia people. The festival is a celebration of the New Year, and it emphasizes the importance of promoting good health, good fortune,
