Bhubaneswar: Nuakhai, an Agrarian festival, is being celebrated in pomp, gaiety, and religious fervour in entire Western Odisha in general and across the State on Wednesday.
The temple priests first completed the Bisesh Gupta Puja or secret rituals. The first harvested crop was offered to goddess Samaleswari at the stipulated Lagna (auspicious moment: fifth day of Bhadrab sukla pakhya, bright fortnight) between 10.27 AM and 10.42 AM.
The priests of the temple commenced the ceremony in the morning as per the prevailing tradition and ritual. Goddess Samaleswari was adorned with new Saree and ornaments.
On the auspicious day, thousands of devotees thronged to the Maa Samaleswari temple to seek her blessing. The temple is open for devotees till 5.30 PM.
While it was Goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur,Nuapada, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, it was Patneswari in Bolangir, Sureswari in Sonepur, Sekharbasisni and Samalai in Sundergarh and Bhairabi in Boudh and village deities who were worshipped on the occasion of Nuakhai .
Western Odisha Veteran and Former Minister A U Singh Deo, K V Singh Deo, Former MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and their Family Members celebrated Nuakhai along with their friends and followers.
There was jubilation among the people of BJD Veteran Shri Singh Deo, who lauded the efforts of the farmers for bringing ‘Food Security’ in the State.
Western Odisha Leader and Former MP Kalikesh Singh Deo said today Odisha Government is releasing KALIA Funds for 44 Lakh farmers on Nuakhai, which will go a long way in helping them financially.
During Nuakhai, the people in the region express their gratitude to their gods and goddesses for giving them excellent crops, ample rainfall, and good weather for farming.
People also observed Nuakhai in their respective homes. The farmers offered the first crop of the year to the household deity on this occasion. The head of the family worships the household deity and offers rice and other food items. The head of the family then distributes the prashad among the family members.
All the family members sit and take their food together on this occasion. Even the people, who work outside, also come back home during the Nuakhai to celebrate the auspicious festival with family.
Apart from the rituals of offering the crop to the deity, the ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ is a major ritual of the festival. The elders are wished ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ and they give blessings for long life, happiness and prosperity.
President Droupadi Murmu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers and others on Wednesday greeted people on the occasion of Nuakhai.
President Shrimati Murmu said the Nuakhai is an occasion of brotherhood and mutual harmony. She prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the country.
Taking to X, Shri Shah said, “My heartfelt greetings to the sisters and brothers of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai. May the blessings of Maa Samaleswari bring us peace and prosperity.”
“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 Samaleswari,” Shri Patnaik said in a message.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand art of Maa Samaleswari at the Nuakhai festival. Through his sand art, Pattnaik wishes people ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ on the auspicious occasion.
Nuakhai is the major festival of western Odisha. On the 5th day in the month of Bhadrab; more clearly on the next day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Nuakhai or Nabanna is observed in the houses across all towns and cities of western Odisha. First, the new yield is offered to the Goddess.