Odia calendar

The Odia calendar (Odia: ପାଞ୍ଜି Pāñji) is a solar calendar used by the Odia people from the Odisha region of the Indian subcontinent. The calendar follows the sidereal solar cycle while using the lunar Purnimanta phase for the religious dates.^[1] The New Year in the Odia calendar is known as Maha Bishuba Sankranti or Pana Sankranti. It occurs on the first day of the traditional solar month of Meṣa (Georgian: Aries), hence equivalent lunar month Baisakha (odia: ବୈଶାଖ). The Odia calendar follows the Utkaliya era, which began on Bhādra śukla dvādaśī from 592 CE.^[2]

New Year and Era

As per the siderial solar cycle followed by the Odia Panjika, the first day of the year or New Year falls on Mesa Sankranti (Sun-crossing into Siderial Aries) in Mid-April. The Odia New Year festival is known as Pana Sankranti (Odia: ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି) or Maha Bishuba Sankranti (Odia: ମହା ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି).^[3]

The Utkaliya era (Odia: ଉତ୍କଳୀୟ Utkaḷiya) for the Odia calendar began on 592 CE on Bhādra sukḷa dvādasi (the 12th day of the full moon fortnight of the Bhādra month). Bhādra sukla dvādasi is considered to be the birthday of the legendary king Indradyumna who set up the up the icon of Lord Jagannath (Neela Madhava) at Puri.^[4]^[5] The epoch seems to correspond to the reign of the legendary early Somavamshis (Kesaris) as per the chronicle Madala Panji, thus implying the era was instituted by King Yayati I of the Somavamshi dynasty.^[6]

Thus the Era calendar new year falls on the 12th day of the full moon fortnight or the waxing moon lunar phase of the Bhādra month in September. This day is termed as the Odia financial New Year and is known as the festival of Sunia (Odia: ସୁନିଆଁ suniā̃) which denotes the start of the beginning of the new financial calendar year for the collection of revenue, publishing of almanacs and the palm-leaf horoscopes carrying the reigning year of the Gajapati King. Post-1947, it has been reduced as a ceremonial day and is mostly used in the Panji calendars to denote the change of Odia calendar year for records and horoscopes.^[7]^[8]^[9]

New Year Date
New Year	Odia month	Gregorian	Cycle
Odia New Year (Pana Sankranti/Maha Bishuba Sankranti)	୧ ବୈଶାଖ (ମେଷ) 1 Baiśākha (Meṣa)	14 April 13 April (Gregorian leap year)	Solar
Odia financial New Year (Sunia)	ଭାଦ୍ର ଶୁକ୍ଳ ଦ୍ୱାଦଶୀ Bhādra Śukḷa Dwādaśī 12th day of Waxing Moon (Full moon) phase	varies, September	Lunar

Odia year	Shaka year	Vikrami year	Gregorian year
୧୪୩୦ ଉତ୍କଳାବ୍ଦ/ଉତ୍କଳୀୟ ସନ 1430 Utkaḷābda/Utkaḷiya San	1944 Śakābda	2079 Vikram Samvat	2022 CE

Anka year

The Anka year (Odia: ଅଙ୍କ Aṅka) system is a unique regnal year system instituted by the Eastern Ganga kings for dating their reigns. It had a number of features that mark the regnal year different from that actual duration of the year elapsed during the reign. The system still survives today and is used in the Odia panjis to mark the titular regnal year of the King of Puri, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb of the Puri Estate, whose title carries the legacy of historical ruling monarchs of Odisha.^[10]^[11]

Features:

The Anka system always starts on the Odia financial new year called Sunia which falls on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of the month Bhadra (August-September) known as Bhādra Sukḷa Dwādasi. If the king accedes the throne for a few days before this date, then the first year of his reign would then just be a few days long.
Coins were minted on the date of the new year, and hence the first coins were given the Anka year 2, the number 1 was not used.
All years ending in 6 were skipped. As in the Anka year 5 was followed by Anka year 7, Anka year 15 was followed by Anka year 17 and so on.
All years ending in 0 were also skipped, except for the Anka year 10.

Hence no Anka years exist for 1, 6, 16, 20, 26, 30, 36, 40, 46, 50, 56, and so on.

Timeline of actual Regnal year and Anka year (shown till regnal year 30)
Regnal year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Anka year	2	3	4	5	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	17	18	19	21	22	23	24	25	27	28	29	31	32	33	34	35	37

Regnal & Anka year of Gajapati king of Puri
(titular reign since 7 July 1970)
Gregorian year	Regnal year	Odia year	Anka year
2022 CE	52	୧୪୩୦ ଉତ୍କଳାବ୍ଦ 1430 Utkaḷābda	୬୫ ଅଙ୍କ 65 Aṅka

Panji

Madala Panji (Odia: ମାଦଳ ପାଞ୍ଜି) is a chronicle of the Jagannath Temple, Puri in Odisha. It describes the historical events of Odisha related to Jagannath and the Jagannath Temple. The Madala Panji dates from the 12th century and was traditionally written on a year-to-year basis on Vijayadashami Day by the Karanas community. The tradition of keeping this chronicle began with Eastern Ganga king Anantavarman Chodaganga (1077–1150).

The modern Odia calendar begins with the scientific reforms initiated by the astronomer Pathani Samanta. His findings which included astronomical observations with the help of traditional instruments were recorded in his treatise Siddhanta Darpana written on palm-leaf manuscript in 1869 and eventually published in 1899. These observations were instrumental in the preparation of almanacs in Odisha especially by the astrologers of the Jagannath temple at Puri.^[12] The prominent Panjis of this tradition include:

Khadiratna Panjika
Samanta Panjika
Biraja Panjika

Other notable Odia Panji calendars include Kohinoor Panji, Biraja Panji(Nanda), Radharaman Panji(based on Puri tradition Panjis), Bhagyadeepa Panji, Bhagyajyoti Panji, Bhagyachakra Panji.^[13]

Months

Odia (Lunar) ମାସ māsa	Days	Odia (Solar) ରାଶି rāsi	Zodiac	Gregorian
ବୈଶାଖ Baiśākha	31	ମେଷ Mesa	Aries	April–May
ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ Jyeṣṭha	31	ବୃଷ Brusa	Taurus	May–June
ଆଷାଢ଼ Āṣāḍha	32	ମିଥୁନ Mithuna	Gemini	June–July
ଶ୍ରାବଣ Śrābaṇa	31	କର୍କଟ Karkaṭa	Cancer	July–August
ଭାଦ୍ରବ/ଭାଦ୍ର Bhādraba/Bhādra	31	ସିଂହ Singha	Leo	August–September
ଆଶ୍ୱିନ Āświna	31	କନ୍ୟା Kanyā	Virgo	September–October
କାର୍ତ୍ତିକ Kārttika	30	ତୁଳା Tuḷā	Libra	October–November
ମାର୍ଗଶିର Mārgaśira	29	ବିଛା Bichā	Scorpio	November–December
ପୌଷ Pauṣa	29	ଧନୁ Dhanu	Sagittarius	December–January
ମାଘ Māgha	30	ମକର Makara	Capricorn	January–February
ଫାଲ୍‌ଗୁନ/ଫଗୁଣ Phālguna/Phaguṇa	30	କୁମ୍ଭ Kumbha	Aquarius	February–March
ଚୈତ୍ର Caitra	30	ମୀନ Mina	Pisces	March–April

Days

The Odia calendar incorporates the seven-day week.

Day (Odia)	Celestial object	Equivalent	Day (Gregorian)
ରବିବାର Rabibāra	Surya	Sun	Sunday
ସୋମବାର Somabāra	Chandra	Moon	Monday
ମଙ୍ଗଳବାର Maṅgaḷbāra	Mangala	Mars	Tuesday
ବୁଧବାର Budhabāra	Budha	Mercury	Wednesday
ଗୁରୁବାର Gurubāra	Brihaspati	Jupiter	Thursday
ଶୁକ୍ରବାର Śukrabāra	Shukra	Venus	Friday
ଶନିବାର Śanibāra	Shani	Saturn	Saturday

Seasons

Odia Rutu ଋତୁ	Season	Odia months	Months (Gregorian)
ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମ Grīṣma	Summer	Baiśākha–Jyeṣṭha	April–June
ବର୍ଷା Barṣā	Monsoon	Āṣāṛha–Śrābaṇa	June–August
ଶରତ Śarata	Autumn	Bhādraba–Āświna	August–October
ହେମନ୍ତ Hemanta	Pre-Winter	Kārttika–Mārgaśira	October–December
ଶୀତ Śīta	Winter	Pauṣa–Māgha	December–February
ବସନ୍ତ Basanta	Spring	Phālguna–Chaitra	February–April

Time

Time	Gregorian	Units	Equivalent
ଦିନ dina	Day	୧୨ ଘଣ୍ଟା 12 ghaṇṭā	12 hours
ରାତି rāti	Night	୧୨ ଘଣ୍ଟା 12 ghaṇṭā	12 hours
ଦିବସ dibasa	Solar day	୨୪ ଘଣ୍ଟା 24 ghaṇṭā	24 hours
୧ ସପ୍ତାହ 1 saptaha	1 week	୭ ଦିନ 7 dina	7 days
୧ ପକ୍ଷ 1 pakṣa	1 fortnight	୧୫ ଦିନ 15 dina	15 days
୧ ବର୍ଷ 1 barṣa	1 year	୩୬୫ ଦିନ 365 dina	365 days
୧ ବର୍ଷ 1 barṣa	1 year	୧୨ ମାସ 12 māsa	12 months

Lunar week
Paksha ପକ୍ଷ (pakhya)	Period	Lunar phase	Days
ଶୁକ୍ଳପକ୍ଷ śukḷapakṣa	From ଅମାବାସ୍ୟା (Amābāsyā) to ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା (Pūrṇṇima) New moon to Full moon	Waxing moon	15 days
କୃଷ୍ଣପକ୍ଷ krushṇapakṣa	From ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା (Pūrṇṇima) to ଅମାବାସ୍ୟା (Amābāsyā) Full moon to New moon	Waning moon	15 days

Lunar Day ତିଥି (tithi)	Bright fortnight ଶୁକ୍ଳପକ୍ଷ (śukḷapakṣa)	Lunar phase	Dark fortnight କୃଷ୍ଣପକ୍ଷ (krushṇapakṣa)	Lunar phase
1	ପ୍ରତିପଦ pratipada	Waxing Crescent	ପ୍ରତିପଦ pratipada	Waning Gibbous
2	ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟା dwitīyā		ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟା dwitīyā
3	ତୃତୀୟା trutīyā		ତୃତୀୟା trutīyā
4	ଚତୁର୍ଥୀ caturthī		ଚତୁର୍ଥୀ caturthī
5	ପଞ୍ଚମୀ pañcamī		ପଞ୍ଚମୀ pañcamī
6	ଷଷ୍ଠୀ ṣaṣṭhī		ଷଷ୍ଠୀ ṣaṣṭhī
7	ସପ୍ତମୀ saptamī	First Quarter	ସପ୍ତମୀ saptamī	Last Quarter
8	ଅଷ୍ଟମୀ aṣṭamī	First Quarter	ଅଷ୍ଟମୀ aṣṭamī	Last Quarter
9	ନବମୀ nabamī	Waning Crescent	ନବମୀ nabamī	Waxing Gibbous
10	ଦଶମୀ daśamī		ଦଶମୀ daśamī
11	ଏକାଦଶୀ ekādaśī		ଏକାଦଶୀ ekādaśī
12	ଦ୍ୱାଦଶୀ dwādaśī		ଦ୍ୱାଦଶୀ dwādaśī
13	ତ୍ରୟୋଦଶୀ trayodaśī		ତ୍ରୟୋଦଶୀ trayodaśī
14	ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶୀ caturddaśī		ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶୀ caturddaśī
15	ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା pūrṇṇima	Full Moon	ଅମାବାସ୍ୟା amābāsyā	New Moon

Festivals

Odia and other Indian festivals observed as per Odia calendar:

Months	Festivals
Baisākha	Pana Sankranti (Maha Bishuba Sankranti)
Jyesṭha	Buddha Purnima, Akshaya Tritiya, Sabitri Brata, Sitalsasthi
Āsāḍha	Raja Parba, Ratha Jatra
Srābaṇa	Gamha Purnima (Raksha Bandhan)
Bhādraba	Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai, Sunia
Āswina	Vishwakarma Puja, Mahalaya, Durga Puja, Dusehra, Kumara Purnima
Kārttika	Kali Puja, Dipabali, Jagaddhatri Puja, Boita Bandana, Bali Jatra
Mārgasira	Prathamastami, Manabasa Gurubara
Pausa	Dhanu jatra, Samba Dashami, Pousha Purnima
Māgha	Makar Sankranti, Vasant Panchami
Phālguna	Maha Shivaratri
Chaitra	Holi (Dol Purnima), Odisha Day (Utkala Dibasa)

References

^ S. Balachandra Rao (2000), Indian Astronomy: An Introduction, Universities Press, p. 44, ISBN 9788173712050
^ VK Mishra (2010), The Calendars of India, p. 55, 81, arXiv:1007.0062
^ Crump, William D. (2014), Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide, MacFarland, page 114
^ Sankar Balakrishna Dikshit (1896). Bharatiya Jyotish Sastra Part 2. India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
^ Girish Chandra Tarkalankar (1894). Chronological tables from 1764 to 1900. Sreenath Banerjee, Bhowanipore. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
^ Kailash Chandra Dash 2010, p. 165.
^ "Sunia". puriwaves. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
^ Subhash Sahu (2009), Sunia (The Odia Calendar) (PDF), retrieved 5 December 2020
^ Roland Hardenberg (July 2000), The Anka Ceremony of the King of Puri (India), Journal of Social Sciences, retrieved 5 December 2020
^ Pankaj Tandon (2012), Tentative Attributions of some Gold Fanams of the Eastern Gangas, BU, retrieved 25 January 2021
^ Pankaj Tandon (2018), Coins of the Eastern Gangas ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga, BU, retrieved 25 January 2021
^ Naik, P. C.; Satpathy, L. (1998). "Samanta Chandra Sekhar : The great naked eye astronomer". Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India. 26: 33–49. Bibcode:1998BASI...26...33N.
^ "Odia calendar". Retrieved 17 November 2020.

Bibliography

Kailash Chandra Dash (2010). "A traditional account on Yayati Keshari: Its formation and historical authenticity". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 71 (2010–2011): 165–178. JSTOR 44147485.

External links

[1] S. Balachandra Rao (2000), Indian Astronomy: An Introduction, Universities Press, p. 44, ISBN 9788173712050

[2] VK Mishra (2010), The Calendars of India, p. 55, 81, arXiv:1007.0062

[3] Crump, William D. (2014), Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide, MacFarland, page 114

[4] Sankar Balakrishna Dikshit (1896). Bharatiya Jyotish Sastra Part 2. India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 2020-04-12.

[5] Girish Chandra Tarkalankar (1894). Chronological tables from 1764 to 1900. Sreenath Banerjee, Bhowanipore. Retrieved 2020-04-12.

[FOOTNOTEKailash_Chandra_Dash2010165-6] Kailash Chandra Dash 2010, p. 165.

[7] "Sunia". puriwaves. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2020.

[8] Subhash Sahu (2009), Sunia (The Odia Calendar) (PDF), retrieved 5 December 2020

[9] Roland Hardenberg (July 2000), The Anka Ceremony of the King of Puri (India), Journal of Social Sciences, retrieved 5 December 2020

[10] Pankaj Tandon (2012), Tentative Attributions of some Gold Fanams of the Eastern Gangas, BU, retrieved 25 January 2021

[11] Pankaj Tandon (2018), Coins of the Eastern Gangas ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga, BU, retrieved 25 January 2021

[12] Naik, P. C.; Satpathy, L. (1998). "Samanta Chandra Sekhar : The great naked eye astronomer". Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India. 26: 33–49. Bibcode:1998BASI...26...33N.

[13] "Odia calendar". Retrieved 17 November 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]