Relishing of ‘pana,’ a syrup made with the pulp of bilwa fruit, yogurt, ripe banana, cottage cheese along with jaggery sprinkled with cardamom and pepper powder and reciting of poems marked the celebration of Odia New Year in the city on Monday.
A large number of Odia families led by Utkal Sankrutika Samaj president J.K. Nayak and secretary Bijay Mahapatra took part in the celebrations held in the Jagannath temple complex, Daspalla Hills.
The day, observed as Maha Bishuba Sankranti or Pana Sankranti is observed every year with fervour and devotion to mark the sun taking the northward movement or Uttarayan.
‘Pana,’ the delicious drink was served to all after offering prayers to Lord Jagannath. The drink, also named bela pana, is an antidote for sunstroke. A literary meet was organised where poems and short stories were read out. As this was the first day of Odia New Year, Panji, the almanac was read by the temple priest. This was followed by bhajan and prasad sevan.
