The eastern Indian state of Odisha is alive with colour, tradition, and devotion as people across the region celebrate Maha Vishuba Sankranti, also known as Pana Sankranti, marking the beginning of the Odia New Year 2025. This culturally rich festival blends religious rituals with vibrant folk performances, spiritual offerings, and heartfelt community gatherings.
A Day of Tradition and Devotion
As the sun rose over Odisha, people from all walks of life began the new year with prayers, temple visits, and community rituals. Homes and temples were adorned with flowers, colourful rangolis, and auspicious symbols. Families prepared traditional drinks like Pana — a cooling, sweet beverage made with bael (wood apple), jaggery, coconut, and black pepper — which is shared among friends, neighbours, and even offered to sacred tulsi plants, symbolising the start of a prosperous new year.
Danda Nacha: Odisha’s Unique Folk Art in Full Bloom
Among the most captivating spectacles of the celebration is Danda Nacha, a traditional folk dance that is both a form of devotion and physical endurance. Performed by dedicated groups of male dancers, this ritual dance-drama blends storytelling, spiritual symbolism, and intense physical feats, often culminating during Pana Sankranti. Crowds gather in towns and villages to witness these performances, which honour deities and invoke blessings for the year ahead.
Spiritual Synergy with Hanuman Jayanti
This year’s Odia New Year coincided with Hanuman Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the revered monkey god, adding deeper spiritual significance to the day. Temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman saw special pujas (prayers), bhajans (devotional songs), and processions, with devotees seeking strength, courage, and divine protection for the coming year.
National Leaders Extend Their Greetings
The occasion drew attention from India’s top leadership, with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi sending warm wishes to the people of Odisha and the global Odia diaspora. In their messages, they highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and the festival’s role in fostering unity and spiritual renewal.
Global Recognition of a Regional Gem
While Maha Vishuba Sankranti is a distinctly Odia celebration, it is gaining international attention as more people explore India’s diverse cultural calendar. With the Odia diaspora actively celebrating across the world — from the United States to the UAE — and social media brimming with images of rituals and dance, the Odia New Year is gradually earning its place in the global spotlight of traditional Indian festivals.