Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and Bolangir MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to declare a three days holiday for Nuakhai festival in Western Odisha.
Klikesh has written a letter to Chief Minister Majhi in Sambalpuri language, which is being used by the people of western Odisha.
In his letter, Kalikesh said ‘Nuakhai’ is a major festival of Western Odisha.
Believed to be dating back to Vedic times, in accordance with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the festival continues to be celebrated by people from all sections of society even today.
The festival is not only celebrated within Odisha, it is also being celebrated by western Odisha people in other parts of the country and outside India, he said.
The people of western Odisha, who are residing anywhere, came to their native place to celebrate the festival each year by offering puja to God, parents, and ancestors, the BJD MLA said.
On the occasion, the newly harvested crops are offered to local deities in Devi shrines in the area and then people partake it as prasad.
Stating that this festival is the soul of 10 western Odisha districts, Shri Singh Deo wrote the festival celebrated on Bhadraba Suklayapakhya Panchami Tithi (5th day of bright fortnight in Bhadraba month of Odia calendar),
However, he said that the state government has given only one day of holiday for the festival. For which, the western Odisha people, residing in far places are facing difficulties to visit their native place to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones.
For the interest of 2.5 crore people from western Odisha, the royal scion demanded for 3-day government holidays so that the people working in those institutions can go to their native places and celebrate Nuakhai with their families.
Shri Singh Deo said he is waiting to hear good news from the Chief Minister.