Sambalpur: The lagna (propitious moment) for the famous Nuakhai festival which is to be observed September 11, was fixed, Tuesday.
A team of servitors from the Pundit Mahasabha at Brahmapura temple here Tuesday finalised the Lagna (propitious moment) for offering ‘Nabanna’ (porridge made from newly harvested rice) to Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of the district.
The pundits fixed the date after going through various Odia almanacs.
The ‘Nabanna’ will be offered to the Goddess between 10.15 am and 10.25 am on the fifth day of lunar fortnight of Bhadrab month, September 11, informed Pundit Amarnath Mishra and Saroj Kumar Dalpat, president of Brahmapura Temple Trust Committee.
The agrarian festival is celebrated in western Odisha after offering of ‘Nabanna’ to Goddess Samaleswari. As per Odia almanac, it is the fifth day of lunar fortnight of Bhadraba month.
Every year, the auspicious time for celebration of the festival is fixed by the Pundit Mahasabha at Brahmapura temple a day after Janmashtami.
The festival is observed with much pomp and gaiety across western Odisha districts like Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda and Boudh to celebrate harvesting.
PNN