JAJPUR,08/09(PPT): Nuakhai is an annual harvest festival in Odisha, celebrated to welcome the season’s new rice. Celebrated a day after Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai is the most auspicious and important social festival in Western Odisha. The much-awaited festival of western Odisha, Nuakhai, will be celebrated with Nabanna offering to Goddess Samaleswari between 9.12 and 9.27 am on September 8. Nuakhai, nua means new and khai means food. So, the festival of nuakhai is a festival to celebrate newly harvested food by the farmers. People staying in distant lands come back to their native places, wear new clothes and offer prayers before the God and eat delicious foods prepared from the newly harvested crops. The agrarian festival marks the harvest of the new rice paddy, in the land where agriculture is the primary occupation. The agrarian festival marks the harvest of the new rice paddy, in the land where agriculture is the primary occupation.On This Occsion Former Minster Pritiranjan Ghadei Said May the divine blessings of Nuakhai bring success, health, and happiness to your life. Nuakhai Juhar! Wishing you a memorable celebration& May this festival of harvest fill your life with joy, your heart with love, and your home with prosperity.
(Report by A.K.Raut)