BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to avoid discrepancies and bring uniformity in the dates and tithis of festivals which are celebrated as per the calendar of Srimandir, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) asked all panjika (almanac) publishers to incorporate the schedule as approved by it.
The frequent confusion and controversies over different festival dates and tithis published in different almanacs led to the move to bring in uniformity. The SJTA held a Panjika Samikarana meeting for the almanac of 2025 which was presided by temple chief administrator Arabinda Padhee and attended by niti administrators, publishers, Puja Panda servitors and members of Mukti Mandap.
Panjika is the Hindu astronomical almanac that gives the dates of festivals, auspicious and inauspicious times, eclipses, lunar days, and movement of sun, moon and stars.
“The SJTA under its niti administration had formed a sub-committee to look into the issue. At the meeting, date and tithi of every festival that is celebrated as per the shrine’s calendar was finalised in presence of panjika publishers,” Padhee said.
The dates have been provided to five leading publishers - Shri Radharaman Bisudha Khadiratna Panjika, Odisha Kohinoor Press Panjika, Arunadoya Press Khadiratna Panjika, GN Tripathy Utkal Jatia Khadiratna Panjika and Bhagyadeepa Press Panjika - for preparing their panjikas for 2025.
“The five panjika publishers have agreed to follow the dates and tithis finalised today. In case of any mistakes in dates committed by any of the panjikas, action will be initiated against their publishers under the Shri Jagannath Temple Act. Apart from these five, several other panjika publishers were also asked to follow the dates,” Padhee said.
Puja Panda servitors said there will be slight difference in the dates and tithis on which some festivals are celebrated. For instance, while Diwali this year will be celebrated on October 21, ‘Sagar Bije’ ritual of Shree Jagannath will be held during Deepabali Amabasya on October 20. “We request people to refer to calendars to know the dates of certain festivals and to panjikas if they want to know the tithi of the festivals,” a servitor said.
Recently, controversy had erupted over celebration of Saraswati Puja (Basanta Panchami) due to inconsistency in dates mentioned by different panjikas.
The date was then finalised as February 2 by the shrine’s niti administration after examining the tithi.
Last year too, there was confusion over the date of Pana Sankranti (Odia New Year) with different panjikas mentioning different dates. While 2024 was a leap year, many calculated Pana Sankranti date by counting it as a normal year with 365 days.