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Popularly Known As
In India the months and years are counted on the basis of lunar or solar
movements. According to the solar system the month is counted from
'Samkranti' to 'Samkranti' and in lunar system it is counted from
'Purnima' (Full-moon) to 'Purnima'. Visuva Samkranti is the first day of
the month of 'Baisakh' as well as the solar year. This is also called "Mahavisuva
Sankranti" or "Jala Visuva Samkranti" In northern India it
is called "Jala Samkranti", in southern India "Sakkar
Pongal" and in Orissa it is known as "Pana Samkranti",
named after 'Pana', the main drink offering specially prepared on this
occasion.
Legend Behind Visuva Samkranti
There are specific reasons as to why the Visuva Samkranti is considered
as the first day of the solar year. It is only on two occasions i.e. "Mesha
Samkranti" and "Tula Samkranti" that the Sun fully rests on
the equator and on these two dates the length of days and nights remain
equal.
After Mesha Samkranti the Sun moves in the northern direction to our side
as our country is situated to the north of the equator. It is, therefore,
from this day of first movement of the Sun from Mesha Samkranti that the
New Year is counted. All over the country this day is considered
auspicious and is celebrated with social, cultural and religious
performances.
The Tradition
In 'Bhabisya Purana', this festival has been mentioned as Jala Samkranti.
According to tradition when 'Bhishma', the grandfather of 'Kurus' or
'Kauravas' and the 'Pandavas' lay on the bed of arrows ('Shara Sajya') he
felt thirsty and there was no water nearby in the ravaged battle-field of
'Kurukshetra'. Then 'Arjuna' with his powerful bow thrusted an arrow deep
into the ground and water immediately shooted out in a stream to quench
the thirst of the dying warrior.
Out of contentment and compassion Bhishma conferred to 'Yudhisthira', "Those
people who would offer cold water to thirsty people on this day would not
only be free from all sins, but also the departed souls of their ancestors
as well as the Gods in heaven would be pleased." This saying of the
holy scripture is observed with great reverence and people all over the
country offer sweet-water to thirsty people as a religious rite.
Main Ritual
In Orissa, this festival is observed with great sanctity in various
forms. On this day 'Chhatu' (grinded corn powder), 'Pana' (sweet water),
umbrellas, fans (made out of palm-leaves or bamboo-strips) and 'Paduka'
(wooden slippers) are offered to Brahmins and the poor people. All these
are the remedies for the scorching Sun.
Water as the vital source of life becomes more symbolical in another
ritual of the festival. Above the 'Tulasi' plant-, which is a must in
every Hindu household of Orissa, a shed is
prepared with branches of green leaves and painted pitcher of smaller size
filled with water is suspended with a rope hanger. Beneath it a small
piece of straw is fixed to a hole in the pitcher through which water is
drained drop by drop on the Tulasi plant. This is called 'Basudhara' (the
stream of the earth). Here, Tulasi plant symbolises the human life and it
is to be saved from the scorching sun by resting in the shed and taking
enough water.
Important Places of Observance
This festival is observed widely in some form or other in the coastal
areas and in some towns and villages of other areas a rigorous ritualistic
observance is observed. Deeply connected with the mass religious culture
of Orissa, a number of other festivals otherwise known as "Jhamu
Yatra", "Hingula Yatra" or "Patua Yatra", "Danda
Yatra", "Uda Yatra" etc., which originated as ritualistic
observances of "Chaitra
Parva" culminate in the Visuba Samkranti and make a grand
finale of the whole celebration.