‘Lagna’ for ‘Nuakhai’ festival finalized

Sambalpur: Priests on Tuesday finalized the ‘Lagna’ (auspicious moment) of Nuakhai, the agrarian festival of Western Odisha, here on the Brahmapura temple premises.

As per the ‘Lagna’, ‘Nabanna’ or rice out of newly-harvested paddy crop will be offered to Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of the Sambalpur between 9.05 am and 9.15 am, on August 26.

The ‘Lagna’ is usually finalized on Nanda Utsav, a day after Janmashtami.

Devotees will offer the ‘Nabanna’ to their presiding deity and Goddess Laxmi as a mark of gratitude for bumper harvest, good rain and favourable weather for farming. Later, people offer ‘Nabanna’ to their own presiding deities.

‘Nuakhai’ is celebrated by offering new paddy crop to the presiding deity to seek blessings for a bumper harvest.