Bhubaneswar: Western Odisha celebrates the Nuakhai agricultural festival with traditional pomp and gaiety on Sunday.
This annual event, steeped in tradition, commemorates the harvest of fresh crops. Locals celebrate by presenting the ‘Nabanna (the first harvested rice crop of the season)’ to their presiding deities and ancestors. The offerings are made at specific times known as ‘Lagna’ and ‘Tithi’, adding a unique cultural flavour to the celebration. It is the most prominent celebration in the western region of the state.
According to tradition, the Nabanna was offered to Sambalpur’s presiding deity, Goddess Samaleswari, between 9.12 a.m. and 9.27 a.m. on Sunday. It was also presented to the Goddesses Pataneswari in Balangir and Manikeswari in Kalahandi, among other places.
On this day, the entire family gathers to enjoy delicacies cooked from newly gathered crops. One of the festival’s highlights is the ‘Juhar bhet’ ceremony, a time-honoured tradition that involves exchanging pleasantries with friends, family, and well-wishers. People receive blessings from their elders by welcoming them with ‘Nuakhai Juhar’.
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“I extend my hearty greetings to all the countrymen, especially the people of Odisha, on Nuakhai. Nuakhai is a great festival of our agriculture-based life. This is also an opportunity to express gratitude towards the farmers of the country. I wish that this festival brings happiness and prosperity in everyone’s life,” greeted President Droupadi Murmu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and others greeted the people of Odisha on Sunday during the Nuakhai festival.
“Nuakhai Juhar! My best wishes on the special occasion of Nuakhai. We express gratitude to our hardworking farmers and appreciate their efforts for our society. May everyone be blessed with joy and good health,” PM Modi wrote on his X handle.
CM Mohan Majhi also greeted the people, wishing them happiness and prosperity. CM Majhi, along with Union Education Minister Pradhan and other senior leaders, had a ‘darshan’ of Goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur.
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–IANS
