Panaa

In a remote village, a small family (grand parents, parents and two kids) used to live. One of the kids was very naughty. Many times, he used to do some mischief in school and the school used to complain to his home. Parents tried their best but could not succeed in correcting the mischievous behavior of their son. And the time passed by.

After completing 4 to 5 years in school, the kid got some friends like him. As the saying goes “Birds of same feather flock together”. During the festivals like Mahabishuba Sankranti and Sibaratri, “Panaa(ପଣା-पणा)/Sharbat” used to get prepared. Some people mix bhaanga/bhaang in panaa. That is the time when that kid along with his friends got the taste of bhaanga. Initially he used to wait for those festivals to have bhaanga. Gradually, this taste became an addiction. He started staying in some friend’s house and lie to his parents that they are going to have a feast that day.

Then the time came and the boy joined an engineering college near Puri town. And now the ‘bhaanga+panaa’ is changed to alcohol. As he belonged to well-to-do family, parents used to provide enough money to their ‘gelha pua (lovable son)’. But the parents didnt ever realise or enquire how their son would utilise that money. Slowly, alcohol addiction went to a peak. The boy started staying in hostel during the festivals like Bishuba Sankranti and Sibaratri, stating that they are going to have panaa. One time, his parents had doubt and directly went to the college hostel and came to know about the situation. They advised a lot but their son was not in a situation to change.

Once on a Mahabishuba Sankranti (Odia New Year), there was some issue at his home. His father tried to call his mobile but could not reach. So, instead of wasting time, parents and his brother started to Puri. Then the parents got busy in the some rituals. His brother finally got his number and when asked, came to know that he is in a bar near beach and fully drunk. So, the brother went to him and told him that their grandfather passed away and so parents are at Swargadwar (cremation ground at Puri) to perform the last rites. Hearing this, his was in shock but cant go near the Swargadwar because of his condition. So he stood at a small distance with teary eyes and watched the last rites of the grandfather. ଏହାକୁ ଭାଗ୍ୟର ବିଡ଼ମ୍ବନା ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଇପାରେ ଯୋଉ ଭାଗ୍ୟକୁ ସେ ନିଜ ହାତରେ ଲେଖିଛି. ଜେଜେଙ୍କର ଶେଷକୃତ୍ୟରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେଇପାରିନାହିଁ ତା’ର ନିଜର ପ୍ରକୃତି ଯୋଗୁଁ.

By this time, his father has seen him. And after the last rites of grandfather is over, he comes to his son and asks him one question “ପଣା ପିଆ ଯଦି ସରିଲା, ତାହେଲେ ଘରକୁ ଯିବା? [If you are done with drinking-panaa, we will start to home?]”.

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