Odia New Year: Pana Sankranti - Mahabishuba Sankranti

The Odia New Year is called Pana Sankranti or Mahabishuba Sankranti.

Details about Pana Sankranti are in my previous blog posts here.

This time let us all ensure correct representation in our social media posts.

As per the Purnachandra Odia Bhashakosha, an Odisha encyclopedia- a monumental 7-volume work of about 9,500 pages published between 1930 and 1940 by an illustrious son of Odisha, Sri Gopal Chandra Praharaj (1874-1945):

 ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି— Bishuba Samkrāntiସଂ. ବି—ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବର୍ଷକରେ ଯେଉଁ ଦିନଦ୍ୱୟ ବିଷୁବ ରେଖା ଉପରେ ଗମନ କରନ୍ତି; ତହିଁର ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଦ୍ୱୟ; ଜଳବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ଓ ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ବର୍ଷକରେ ଯେଉଁ ଦିନଦ୍ୱୟ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପ୍ରଥମେ ଯଥା— କ୍ରମେ ମେଷ ରାଶିକୁ ଓ ତୁଳ ରାଶିକୁ ସଂକ୍ରମଣ (ଗମନ) କରନ୍ତି—The two Saṁkrānti days in the year falling after the equinoxes; the passage of the sun to the next sign at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes; the passage of the sun to the first points of Aries and Libra after the vernal and autumnal equinoxes; the equinoxial passage (Apte).

ବିଷୁବ— Bishuba3। ମେଷ ବା ବୈଶାଖ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି; ମହାବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି—3. The Saṁkrānti or the 1st day of the month of solar Ba̲i̱ṡākha; the first point of Aries which the sun enters after the vernal equinox (Apte).

Chhenapoda and Podapitha - Foods of Odisha

Chhenapoda is a delectable dessert of Odisha that is prepared by using Chhena (cottage-cheese).

More information about Chhenapoda in my previous posts here.

There is a lot of misinformation regarding Chhenapoda.

More awareness is needed.

What is the name of the following bhoga?

Source

The Hidden Treasure

Mili was visiting her grandparents’ home.

They had passed away...

Though Mili was visiting after many years, she saw that not much had changed in their home.

There was still no air-conditioner or television.

As a kid, Mili never missed electronic devices whenever she visited her grandparents.

They played many board games together.

She loved listening to their stories.

Many memories came flooding her mind.

Photo Prompt- Susan Rouchard

The Bridge of Diligence

 The villagers had always wanted a bridge.

During the rainy season, boatmen either didn’t come or didn't dare to ferry passengers.

School students suffered.

Some diligent students, who didn't want to miss school, used to swim to attend school.

The villagers had communicated during meetings with politicians.

All letters to leaders had been in vain.

Governments came and went; the river had no bridge…

-x-

Photo Prompt- Sandra Crook

Manifestation Magic

Imparting dance lessons to Persons With Disability (PWD) was tough.

She trained them wonderfully.

Photo Prompt- Dale Rogerson

She knew nothing was impossible.

Her dream University beckoned.

She often saw the building through her netted-curtain.

Photo Prompt- Roger Bultot

It was always there in front of her.

In her last attempt, she was rejected.

The Beach Rider

They had challenged her that she could never learn to ride a bicycle.

"You are already so old!"

"If you fall while learning to ride a bicycle, your broken bones are not going to heal easily!"

They all taunted her!

--x--

The choice was hers.

The field was hers.

She started earnestly.

It was tough with arthritis...

Photo Prompt- Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

The Spelling of Rasabali In Odia

 Rasabali is a cottage cheese-based dessert of Odisha.

"Kendrapara Rasabali" has the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

When I first started working for this GI, I looked for the spelling of this word- Rasabali- not only in English, but in Odia also.

As "Rasavali" too is derived from Sanskrit, and there the letter "v" is used instead of "b".

Rasavali was born in the temple of Baldev Ji in Kendrapara. It is a delicious dessert. It is a famous food all over Odisha. It has a long history of being born in Odisha and it is an Oriya food. It can make the world famous as an Oriya food by getting the GI tag#saveodiafood pic.twitter.com/a1g20SLuNP

— 💖Odia food & sweets💖 (@_odia_food_) March 2, 2022

When I first consulted with scholars and language experts, those with a strong Sanskrit background advocated the usage of "Rasavali" in the name.

However, the usage of "b" i.e. Rasabali is more common in Odia.

Many of the sellers are already using - "Rasabali" as the name.

As we must be true to our local spelling and name, being "vocal for local", we settled for "Rasabali."

The name of "Kendrapara" was also discussed and went ahead with "Kendrapara" as the district name is - Kendrapara (and not Kendrapada).

These blog posts have more about our Rasabali GI outreach-

http://www.anitaexplorer.com/2020/07/kendrapada-rasabali.html

http://www.anitaexplorer.com/2023/09/does-rasabali-have-hole-like-doughnut.html

https://www.anitaexplorer.com/2023/10/kendrapara-rasabali-gi-tag-of-odisha.html

After my facilitation for the "Kendrapara Rasabali" GI and despite personally informing the stakeholders multiple times about the need for "correct representation", it was disappointing to find that the GI application had been submitted and the logo had been applied that too with the wrong information and spellings of product, applicants, place etc -

There Were No Footsteps When I Walked

I do not know how or why I embarked on that trip,

They laughed at me saying everything I did was a blip!

With the herd mentality, they indulged in copy-paste-

Anything original & great, they'd own up after a taste!

Image credit; Moostapper @ Pixabay

While they followed footsteps & copied all bit by bit,

Hiding sources, appropriating & falsely claiming credit!

You Look Great Even Without AI

Fairness has its stark advantages here.

Dark skin is not what most can bear.

"Fair is beautiful"- for many in our land.

Being fair is "lovely" & like a magic wand.

Source: Pexels

A darker shade of skin is sought to be lightened.

Beauty standards are accentuated & heightened.

"Fair" is much in demand in this digital age too!

Tech filters, apps & AI change the looks of you!

The Snow Trip

“No, you cannot cancel our trip to the Himalayas yet again!

I’ve never seen snow in my life.”

Riya was upset.

It was the second time her husband had expressed his inability to go on the trip.

Riya had spent hours to book the trip.

Photo Prompt- Dale Rogerson

He had promised he would make it this time.