Agrarian festival 'Nuakhai' kicks off in Western Odisha with traditional fervour; Prez, PM extend greetings

People in western Odisha plunged into festive mood with the most important agrarian and social festival Nuakhai beginning on Thursday. This year, the festival is being celebrated with pomp and grandeur. 

As per the rituals, Nabanna (porridge prepared from new paddy crop) was offered to the Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of western Odisha between 10.56 am to 11.10 am. Subsequently, Nabanna was offered to other deities and people will have food prepared from new crop.

The excitement is high among the people as they will celebrate the festival after a gap of two year due to Covid-19 situation. Unprecedented rush was witnessed at bus stands in Bhubaneswar with people leaving for their homes in western Odisha to celebrate the mass festival. 

President Droupadi Murmu, who hails from Odisha, extended wishes to the people of western Odisha on the occasion. She wished that the festival may bring love and harmony and prosperity to all. 

 

ନୂଆଖାଇ ଜୁହାର।
ନୂଆଖାଇ ଅବସରରେ ମୁଁ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀ ବିଶେଷକରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପଶ୍ଚିମାଞ୍ଚଳର ଭାଇ ଓ ଭଉଣୀ ମାନଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଜଣାଉଛି।
ସ୍ନେହ,ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା ଓ ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ଦ୍ୟର ଏହି ଅନନ୍ୟ ଗଣପର୍ବ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସୁଖ,ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଆଣୁ,ଏହା ମୋର ଆନ୍ତରିକ କାମନା।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 1, 2022

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the people of the State on the occasion, “Nuakhai Juhar! Best wishes to everyone on this special day. This is an occasion to express gratitude to our hardworking farmers for their exemplary work in feeding our nation. May our society scale new heights of progress and may everyone be happy as well as healthy,” Modi tweeted.

 

Nuakhai Juhar! Best wishes to everyone on this special day. This is an occasion to express gratitude to our hardworking farmers for their exemplary work in feeding our nation. May our society scale new heights of progress and may everyone be happy as well as healthy.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2022

 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also wished the people of the State on the occasion. 

 

ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ନୂଆଁଖାଇର ଜୁହାର। ମା' ସମଲେଶ୍ବରୀ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଭଲରେ ରଖନ୍ତୁ। #ନୂଆଁଖାଇଜୁହାର 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YJHaAP2UNt

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 1, 2022

 

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released a video and wished everyone on the occasion.

 

ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ 🙏

ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଅବ୍‌ସର୍ ଥି ଗୁରୁଜନ୍, ଦାଦା- ଭାଏ ଆଉ ମାଁ- ବହେନ୍ ମାନ୍‌କୁଁ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ ଜନଉଁଛେଁ । ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଆପଣ୍ ମାନକଁର୍ ଜୀବନ୍ ଥି ଆଉ ପରିବାର୍ ଥି ଶାନ୍ତି, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ସାଙ୍ଗେ ଖୁସି ଆଉ ଆନନ୍ଦ୍ ଆନୁ । #NuaKhai pic.twitter.com/nu9yyijILx

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 1, 2022

 

BJP national vice-president Baijayant Jay Panda also extended greetings on the occasion and prayed for happiness, peace and prosperity of all.

 

ସମକୁ ମୋର୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍।
କୃଷିଭିତ୍ତିକ ଗଣପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ମାଁ ସମଲେଇଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି ।
ଜୟ ମାଁ ସମଲେଇ 🙏🙏#Nuakhai#NuakhaiJuhar pic.twitter.com/uVGt7mv07D

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) September 1, 2022