Bhubaneswar: A host of top leaders extended greetings to the people on Tuesday as western Odisha celebrated Nuakhai, the region’s major agrarian festival.
Nuakhai marks the arrival of the new harvest and is celebrated with the offering of newly harvested rice, or Nabanna, to presiding deities before families partake of the new crop.
In Sambalpur, Nabanna was offered to Maa Samaleswari at the Samaleswari Temple during the auspicious ritual timing fixed for the festival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, extended his greetings on Nuakhai and described it as a festival celebrating farmers, the harvest and the spirit of togetherness.
“Nuakhai Juhar!
Warm greetings on Nuakhai, a festival that celebrates our farmers, the harvest and the spirit of togetherness. May this special occasion strengthen bonds of harmony and bring happiness and prosperity in our society.
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ !
ଆମ କୃଷକ, ଫସଲ ଏବଂ ଏକତାର ପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇର ଅନେକ ଅନେକ ଶୁଭକାମନା । ଏହି ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଅବସର ଆମ ସମାଜରେ ସଦ୍ଭାବନାର ବନ୍ଧନକୁ ସୁଦୃଢ଼ କରୁ ଏବଂ ଖୁସି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ନେଇ ଆସୁ ।” he said in his post.
President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her greetings to the people, particularly those in Odisha. She described Nuakhai as an agrarian mass festival and said its traditions of community feasting and meeting friends and relatives represented social and familial affection.
She expressed confidence that the festival would further strengthen mutual harmony and goodwill and wished everyone happiness, peace and prosperity.
Governor of Odisha Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati extended Nuakhai Juhar to the people, describing the festival as a symbol of the rich culture and traditions of western Odisha.
He invoked Maa Samaleswari’s blessings for the happiness and well-being of all.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also greeted the people on the occasion, describing Nuakhai as an agrarian mass festival.
He prayed to Maa Samaleswari for the lives of people to be filled with happiness, peace and prosperity.
Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan marked the occasion by visiting Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur. He said he was privileged to have the opportunity to seek the goddess’s darshan and prayed that Nuakhai would bring happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone.
Nuakhai brings families and communities together through traditions centred on the new harvest. After the newly harvested rice is offered to the presiding deity, families come together to share the new crop and prepare traditional delicacies.
Younger members seek blessings from elders through Nuakhai Juhar, while relatives, friends and community members exchange greetings and take part in Nuakhai Bhetghat.
The festival also sees people living and working away from their hometowns return home to celebrate with their families. Homes are filled with traditional pitha and other festive delicacies, while community gatherings and cultural programmes add to the celebrations.
Nuakhai holds a special place in western Odisha, where the festival remains closely linked to agriculture, the new harvest, family ties and community traditions. Celebrations are taking place across districts including Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Subarnapur.
