Mahabisuba Pana Sankranti

Odia

Also known as: Makar Sankranti, Pana Sankranti, Makara Brata

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2026 Odia Date

Mahabisuba Pana Sankranti

About Mahabisuba Pana Sankranti

Mahabisuba Pana Sankranti, also known as Makar Sankranti or Pana Sankranti, is the Odia New Year celebrated on the first day of Makara (mid-January). It marks the sun's northward journey (Uttarayan) and is one of the most important festivals in Odisha.

The day is called Pana Sankranti because of the traditional drink pana -- a refreshing beverage made from wood apple (bael), jaggery, water, and sometimes milk -- which is offered to Lord Shiva and distributed among neighbours.

Devotees take early morning holy dips in rivers and ponds. The Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, and other major shrines hold elaborate celebrations with special prayers and rituals.

The festival celebrates the harvest season and the transition of the sun. Traditional sweets like pitha and dahi pakhala are prepared. People wear new clothes, visit temples, and exchange greetings marking the auspicious beginning of the new solar cycle.

Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules

Devotees observe Makara Brata, a sacred fast involving ritual bathing and the preparation of pana.

Step-by-Step Fasting Procedures:

Wake before sunrise and take a holy dip in a river or pond.
Prepare pana (wood apple drink) and offer it to Lord Shiva.
Visit temples and offer prayers to the Sun God.
Distribute pana and sweets among neighbours and the needy.

Parana (Breaking Fast) Note: The fast is broken after offering pana to deities with prasad and traditional food.

Puja Samagri & Ritual Steps

Essential Puja Samagri:

Wood apple (bael) for panaJaggery, water, and milkFlowers and garlandsIncense sticks and earthen lampsRice and traditional sweets

Puja Procedure:

Wake before sunrise and take a ritual bath.
Prepare the traditional pana drink from bael, jaggery, and water.
Offer pana and prayers to Lord Shiva and the Sun God.
Visit temples and exchange greetings.
Distribute pana and prasad among the community.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the special drink prepared on Pana Sankranti?

Pana is a traditional refreshing drink made from wood apple (bael), jaggery, water, and sometimes milk. It is offered to deities and consumed as prasad.

Q: Why is Pana Sankranti important in Odisha?

Pana Sankranti marks the Odia New Year and the sun's northward journey. It is a time for gratitude, prayer, and community celebration.

Note: All timings are represented in 24-hour notation in local time of the selected location with DST adjustment (if applicable).

Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang, a day starts and ends with local sunrise.