Odia Culture / Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Seeks Almanac Manuscripts From Publishers for 2027-28 Odia Panji

Puri, Oct 13: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the Mukti Mandap Pandit Sabha have invited manuscripts from publishers for the preparation of the new Odia 'Panji' (almanac) for 2027-28.

The administration has asked interested almanac publishers to submit the complete manuscripts covering all 12 months by October 20. Letters have been sent to eight organisations that publish almanacs, seeking their submissions for scrutiny and consideration.

The publishers contacted include Radharaman Press, GN Tripathy & Sons, Bhagyadeep, Bhagyajyoti, Kohinoor, Daibagyan Press, Samanta Chandrasekhar and Arunodaya Press.

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Following the submission of manuscripts, the almanac details will be compared with the Panjika maintained by the Mukti Mandap Pandit Sabha and the calendars followed by the temple's Pujapanda and 'Tadhau Karana' servitors. The manuscripts will then be examined, and a revised almanac will be published after the necessary deliberations and corrections.

The initiative aims to bring uniformity to the calculations and dates published in different Odia almanacs. Differences among existing Panjikas have often left people confused over dates and religious observances.

The temple administration and the Mukti Mandap Pandit Sabha have been pursuing the process to establish greater consistency in almanac calculations and reduce discrepancies among publications. By examining the submissions together and reconciling differences, the authorities aim to ensure greater clarity for devotees who rely on a 'Panji' to determine religious dates and rituals.

The preparation of the revised almanac is expected to follow the scrutiny and reconciliation process involving the publishers and the temple's traditional authorities.