India, April 14 -- 'Pana Sankranti', also known as 'Maha Bishuba Sankranti', marks the beginning of the Odia New Year and is celebrated with great devotion and traditional fervour across Odisha. The festival is observed with the release of the new Panjika - the Hindu almanac that outlines important religious dates, timings, and astrological predictions for the year.

Unlike the lunar-based calendars used for other Hindu festivals, the Panjika for Pana Sankranti follows the solar calendar. It records auspicious times, sunrise and sunset timings, planetary positions, and more, starting from Mesha Sankranti (Aries transition) to Mina Sankranti (Pisces transition).

One of the key rituals of this day is the preparation and sharing of pana, a...