Bela pana being prepared. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, April 13: Options of cold drinks, lassi and cold coffee have become popular in the city for the past few years to get refreshed during summers. But the traditional Oriya beverage of pana still has its following intact. On the Oriya new year, only the traditional beverage, pana, rules. So much that the festival of Maha Bishuba Sankranti is therefore popularly known as Pana Sankranti. According to the tradition, since the festival is observed during the peak of summer, a number of remedies are included in the dishes and rituals. The most important is the beverage of pana.

“During olden days, umbrellas and fans made of palm leaves and chhattu (powdered corn and pulses) were offered to Lord Hanuman and other gods and goddesses and these used to be distributed among people by well-to-do families on Maha Bishuba Sankranti. Though these traditions have vanished, it is the traditional drink of pana that continues to be an integral part of the festival,” said Ghana Panda, a priest.

Pana is prepared by mixing different types of fruits, water, milk, pulp of bela (stone apple), curd and sugar. “Amba pana that includes mango pulp, is offered to Lord Jagannath to convey new year wishes while many offer the beverage to Lord Shiva by adding little bhaang,” added Panda.

The stone apples have been made available in the market in the last couple of weeks. But the price has increased in the last few days.“Until last week the price was limited to Rs 10 a piece but since many devotees offer bela pana to Lord Hanuman on sankranti, it has reached to Rs 30. In fact, bigger ones are available at Rs 50 a piece,” said Gauranga Nanda, a resident of the capital city.

This customary concoction of fruits is popular during summers despite of other cold beverages. Especially during Pana Sankranti, Oriya families prepare the drink at home and distribute among friends and relatives. The drink is also sold at lassi stalls on the roadside.

“Today there are a number of drinks available that replenish the body when it is scorching heat. But pana is still a favourite of many customers. We sell pana lassi even before the Sankranti. However, the demand is high on this particular day,” said a kiosk owner in the Old Town area, where the drink is prepared in the authentic Oriya way.