VISUVA SANKRANTI

Celebrated in : Coastal Areas of Orissa Also known as : Mahavisuva Sankranti or Jala Visuva Sankranti Falls on : The first day of the month of Baisakh (April)

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.