Odisha celebrates New Year Maha Vishuva Sankranti
Apr 15, 2019
Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Apr 15 (ANI): The people of Odisha on Sunday celebrated Maha Vishuva Sankranti and the Odia New Year by exchanging greetings and offering pujas in temples across the State. The festival marks the introduction of new Panjika, which is an almanac of Hindu religious festivals, timings and predictions for the year. The devotees with the earthen pot filled with sacred water then used to walk on the burning wood charcoal. They wear picturesque costumes and dance bare footed over burning charcoals which is a part of the ritual during the festival. While speaking to ANI, a devotee said, “Today is the new year of Odia, devotees walk on burning charcoal and after taking bath devotees enter in to the temple.” Maha Vishuva Sankranti is the first day of the Odia calendar and also marks the end of spring and beginning of summer.