Bhubaneswar, Sept 8: The Nuakhai fervor swept across western Odisha today as people from all walks of life united to celebrate the major agrarian festival with great enthusiasm. The celebration officially began after the ‘Nabanna’ (newly harvested rice) was ceremoniously offered to Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of western Odisha, at the scheduled time between 9:12 AM and 9:27 AM.

Nuakhai, marking the beginning of the new rice harvest, was observed with traditional rituals and ceremonies. According to tradition, the first harvested crop was offered to Goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur. Families then gathered for a ceremonial meal, with the eldest member serving the new rice to symbolize unity and blessings for prosperity.

The younger family members sought blessings from their elders by bowing down and touching their feet. The day was filled with the exchange of wishes among loved ones.

Nuakhai is celebrated to welcome the new rice of the season and to express gratitude for abundant crops, good rainfall, and favorable farming conditions. Worship of presiding deities, seeking blessings for a prosperous harvest, is central to the celebrations.

The festival holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, reinforcing values of gratitude, community bonding, and respect for nature's bounty. Dressed in traditional attire, people exchanged gifts and sought blessings from elders, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of western Odisha.

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