Happy Odia New Year...!

14/4/2010 ଓଡ଼ିଆ ନୂତନ ବର୍ଷ ରେ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ...
Maha Vishuba Sankranti, also known as Mesha Sankranti and Pana Sankranti, is observed during the sun’s transition into the sign Mesha or Aries. Maha Vishuba Sankranti is the Odia New Year day and this festival onwards Odisha religious calendar begins. Odia Happy New Year falls on April 14th each year. People visit various temples and offer prayers and special pujas.

A sweet concoction known as pana is prepared and distributed among one and all. (Pana is prepared by mixing different types of fruits, water, milk, pulp of bela, curd and sugar). This day is also marked by literary get-togethers.

Mesha Sankranti also marks the Tamil New Year (Chitirai Vishu or Puthandu or Varsha Pirapu), Bengali New Year (Poila Baisakh), and AssamNew Year (Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu). It coincides with the traditional New Year in Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal and Tamil Nadu - in short the solar Hindu New Year.