Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greeted people on the occasion of Nuakhai on Wednesday.
Calling it an occasion of brotherhood and mutual harmony, the President prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the country.
The CM wrote on X: “My greetings and best wishes to all on the occasion of the agricultural fair. May your life be filled with happiness and prosperity with the blessings of Maa Samleswari”
Nuakhai is an annual harvest festival of Odisha, which is known for celebrating 13 festivals in 12 months as said popularly in Odia ‘Bara Maasa re Teraa Parba’. The literal meaning of Nuakhai is ‘Nua’ means New and ‘khai’ means eating.
The agrarian festival is observed on Panchami Tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhadraba (August–September), the day after Ganesh Chaturthi. It is celebrated with pomp and gaiety in several districts, including Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Boudh and Sonepur, where people worship their presiding deities as a mark of gratitude for bumper crops, good rain and favourable weather for farming.
Oral tradition of this festival dates back to 12th century when it was celebrated by Chauvan Raja Ramai Deo at Patanagarh in Balangir district of Odisha.
This year, the first harvested crop, ‘Nabanna’, will be offered to the goddess in Sambalpur at the stipulated Lagna (auspicious moment) between between 10.27 am and 10.42 am. Apart from the usual rituals, the celebrations of Nuakhai include wearing of new clothes, worshipping the presiding deity and having a sumptuous lunch with the entire family. The tradition of Nuakhai Bhet Ghat is observed with family members and relatives the following day.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Odisha government has declared a special local holiday for the day following Nuakhai on September 21 (Thursday) for Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada and Jharsuguda besides in Sadar, Panposh and Bonai subdivisions of Sundargarh
