PANA SANKRANTI,POILA BOISHAKH,GUDI PADWA 2021
Pana Sankranti
Pana Sankranti is an important day in Odisha as the traditional New Year day of Hindus and Buddhists. In India the months and years are counted on the basis of lunar or solar movements. According to the solar system the month is counted from ‘Sankranti’ to ‘Sankranti’ and in lunar system it is counted from ‘Purnima’ (Fullmoon) to ‘Purnima’. Maha Visuva Sankranti is the first day of the month of ‘Baisakh’ as well as the solar year. This is also called “Jala Visuva Sankranti” In northern India it is called “Jala Sankranti”, in southern India “Sakkar Pongal” . Therefore, almost always falls on 14 April every year in the Gregorian calendar.
On this day, religious people get up early in the morning and take sankranti buda in nearby rivers/ponds. Standing in knee deep water they worship Surya reciting Gayatri mantra. Some perform homa. They spend the day visiting temples Many keep fast while others take simple vegetarian food. The festival is celebrated with visits to Shiva, Shakti, or Hanuman temples, as the day is considered the birthday of Hanuman.
Pana Sankranti is named after ‘Pana,’ the main fruit drink which is prepared in Odisha’s traditional culture. The festival enthusiasts enjoy the essence of its charisma by having Pana with Chhatua, commonly called Bel Pana. It is a mixture of milk, spices, sugar, and fruit of Bel. Besides, as per Odia culture, the Odia almanac starts from today.
Poila Boishakh
The Bengali people of West Bengal and Tripura celebrate their traditional new year on the first of Boishakh. Bengali New Year is called “Poila Boishakh“ in the Bengali language, meaning “first of the month Boishakh.“ observed on April 15th in India.
Bengali New Year is filled with colourful processions, fairs, festive family get-togethers, and prayers to the god Ganesha and the goddess Lakshmi for health and wealth in the year ahead. It is traditional to thoroughly clean your house, make colourful “alpana“ displays in water pots, and to ritually bathe in a nearby river. Bengalis usually start the day with the traditional simple breakfast of panta-bhat (leftover rice soaked in water), fried fish and traditional curries.
Bengali New Year is celebrated by people of different faiths and is a cultural more than religious holiday, many of the activities are enjoyed by all, even by non-Bengalis and visitors from other parts of India or from abroad.
Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa is a spring-time festival that marks the traditional new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. Gudi Padwa, also known as Samvatsar Padvo is celebrated as Ugadi.
Gudi Padwa is a spring festival that marks the new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus. The festival is observed with colourful floor decorations called rangoli, a special Gudhi flag street processions, dancing and festive foods. Maharashtrian families also make many other festive dishes such as shrikhand and Poori or Puran Poli on this day.