Anomalies in Almanacs to be Resolved for Uniform Ritual Observance

Puri : The longstanding discrepancies in various almanacs (panjikas) regarding the observance of religious rituals in Odisha are set to be streamlined, Sri Jagannath Temple Chief Administrator Arbinda Padhi announced on Tuesday.

To address the confusion caused by differing dates and tithis in various almanacs, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has constituted a sub-committee to examine and standardize the panjikas. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Padhi, which was attended by leading almanac producers and publishers of the state.

Representatives from Kohinoor, Radharaman, Arunodoy, G. N. Tripathy, and Bhagyadeep Panjika were present at the meeting and agreed to cooperate in ensuring uniformity in their publications. Padhi emphasized that a majority of people rely on panjikas for conducting key religious ceremonies such as marriages, thread ceremonies, yajnas, and other spiritual observances.

He further stated that the Srimandir itself follows these almanacs for the performance of several rituals. However, the inconsistencies in tithis and special observances, particularly during eclipses and other significant occasions, have led to confusion among devotees, prompting the temple administration to intervene.

“The anomalies in almanacs have been a cause of concern for devotees for several years. By standardizing the information, we hope to eliminate confusion and maintain uniformity in ritual observances,” Padhi stated.

The initiative aims to ensure that future editions of panjikas provide synchronized details, facilitating seamless religious practices across Odisha. The Chief Administrator expressed hope that the upcoming annual panjikas will reflect these corrections and bring clarity to devotees and temple authorities alike.