Sundargarh: The village of Jhurimal in Sundargarh district has once again stood as a symbol of community spirit by celebrating the agrarian festival ‘Nuakhai’ uniquely and collectively. Here, women are served food first. Unlike the traditional practice of confining the celebration to individual households, the villagers of Jhurimal have been observing Nuakhai together as one large family for the past 13 years. This year, 163 households participated in the celebration, which drew hundreds of villagers and guests from nearby areas. Nuakhai, the most significant festival of Western Odisha, marks the offering of the season’s first harvest to deities and ancestors.
While it has always been an occasion of gratitude and festivity, Jhurimal has given it a new dimension by turning it into a collective celebration, thereby reinforcing the values of unity, compassion, and togetherness. The villagers prepared food in a single pot, shared the harvest as one community, and came together in prayer, festivity, and cultural expression. One of the most remarkable aspects of Jhurimal’s Nuakhai is the tradition of men serving food to women first. This role reversal is not just symbolic but also a progressive step towards promoting gender equality and acknowledging the vital role of women in society. Such practices have made the festival not only a cultural event but also a social statement that bridges tradition with modern values.
The celebration was filled with vibrant activities that brought joy to all age groups. From sacred rice offerings and preparation of millet-based sweets to traditional games like ‘Puchi Khel’ and ‘Shankh Phuka’, the festival revived age-old customs while engaging the younger generation. Local artistes were felicitated, and villagers followed the ‘Juhar-Bhet’ tradition by seeking blessings from elders and setting aside past differences. Attending the congregation as the chief guest, Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Kumar Singh said, “The unique Nuakhai celebration of Jhurimal villagers is a true example of universal brotherhood, an extraordinary tradition of fraternity, and a historic step towards unity and collective participation.” On this occasion, the honoured guest and village Gauntia (headman) of Jhurimal, Janmejaya Patel, expressed his gratitude to all the organisers of the village for this innovative celebration and appealed to the neighbouring villages to join and adopt this tradition. Jhurimal is also home to remarkable talent, who have brought pride and recognition to the community. During this year’s Nuakhai celebrations, the committee proudly felicitated its shining stars like Swarit Upadhyay, a 14-year-old prodigy and achiever of the India Book of Records as well as the Global Kids Achievers’ Award; Swetanjali Patel, the village’s first MBBS student; and Sarika Pandey, who brought laurels by winning the Miss Odisha Contest. In addition, three local journalists — Sushant Sarangi, Rabi Tanty, and Kalo Singh — were honoured for their dedicated contributions to society and the community.
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The meeting was conducted by anchor Firoz Patel, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Digambar Upadhyay, the founder of ‘Samuhika Nuakhai’. With its unique blend of tradition, innovation, and inclusivity, Jhurimal’s collective celebration of the agrarian fest has become a source of inspiration not only for neighbouring villages but also for communities far beyond. It stands as a reminder that festivals are not only about rituals, but also about reinforcing the timeless values of equality, harmony, and collective growth.
