Odia New Year: PM, CM greet people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished the people of the State on Saturday on the occasion of the Odia New Year, also celebrated as Maha Bisuba Sankranti.

Both took to micro-blogging site Twitter to convey their greetings. Maha Bisuba Sankranti, also known as Pana Sankranti, is the beginning of the Odia New Year and marks the day when the new Odia almanac comes into effect.

People across the State thronged various temples and offered prayers to the deities on the occasion, which is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman.

The advent of the New Year was celebrated by many by drinking ‘Pana’, a drink made with fruit contents and sugar.

In Puri, traditional wrestlers came out of the Jaga Ghara, Akharas (training homes) and gymnasiums to showcase their wrestling skills after worship of Lord Hanuman.