Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today wished the people of the state on the occasion of Odia New Year, also celebrated as Maha Bisuba Sankranti.

Both took to micro-blogging site Twitter to convey their greetings.

To all my Odia friends across the world, greetings on Maha Vishuba Sankranti! Have a wonderful year ahead. We take immense pride in the rich Odia culture.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2018

ପବିତ୍ର ବିଷୁବ ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି ତଥା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ନବ ବର୍ଷରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦରୁ ନବ ବର୍ଷଟି ଆମ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସୁଖ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧିର ବର୍ଷ ହେଉ। pic.twitter.com/zazI3nPFF5

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 14, 2018

Maha Bisuba Sankranti, also known as Pana Sankranti, is the beginning of the Odia New Year and marks the day when the new Odia almanac comes into effect.

People across the state today thronged various temples and offered prayers to the deities on the occasion, which is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman.

The advent of the New Year was celebrated by many by drinking 'pana', a sweet-sour drink made with fruit contents and sugar.

In Puri, traditional wrestlers came out of the Jaga Ghara, Akharas (training homes) and gymnasiums to showcase their wrestling skills after worship of Lord Hanuman.