Sambalpur: People across western Odisha are celebrating Nuakhai – the agrarian festival of the region – with religious fervor and devotion today.
The celebrations began with the ‘Nabanna’ or new rice out of newly harvested paddy crop was offered to Maa Samaleswari Devi in Sambalpur as per the ‘lagna’ or auspicious moment. Later, people offered ‘Nabanna’ to their presiding deities.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of the western Odisha on the occasion of Nuakhai. In his Twitter message, prime minister Narendra Modi said, “Nuakhai Juhar. Greetings to the people of Odisha on this special festival. May this festival bring more prosperity in the lives of farmers.”
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik also greeted the people of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai.
Among others, Union minister Jual Oram, BJD’s Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda, PCC President Prasad Harichandan, State BJP President Basant Panda greeted the people of the State on the occasion of Nuakhai.
Notably, ‘Nuakhai’ is celebrated by offering new paddy crop to the presiding deity to seek blessings for a bumper harvest. People offer this ‘Nabanna’ to the deity amidst ‘Hulahuli’, beating drums, cymbals and sounds of conch shells.