Bhubaneswar: Agrarian festival ‘Nuakhai’ was celebrated in Odisha, mostly in the western region of the state Thursday.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greeted people on the occasion.
Murmu, who hails from Odisha, greeted the people of the state with ‘Nuakhai Juhar’.
“I extend my heartiest congratulations to the brothers and sisters of Odisha, especially to western Odisha. It is my sincere wish that this unique festival of love, devotion and harmony brings happiness, peace and prosperity to all,” she tweeted.
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
The prime minister also wished people 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.
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ ! ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ବିଶେଷ ଦିନର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା । କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ କରି ଦେଶବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ଖାଦ୍ୟାନ୍ନ ଯୋଗାଉଥିବା ଆମର ଚାଷୀ ଭାଇ ମାନଙ୍କୁ କୃତଜ୍ଞତା ଜଣାଇବାର ଏହି ଅବସର । ଆମ ସମାଜ ପ୍ରଗତିର ନୂଆ ଉଚ୍ଚତାରେ ପହଞ୍ଚୁ । ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁଖ, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଓ ଉତ୍ତମ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି ।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2022
Patnaik sought the blessings of Goddess Samaleswari for the well-being of everyone.
“My best wishes on the occasion of Odisha’s agriculture-based Ganaparba Nuakhai. May the grace of Maa Samaleswari be upon us,” the chief minister said in a Twitter post.
ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ନୂଆଁଖାଇର ଜୁହାର। ମା’ ସମଲେଶ୍ବରୀ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଭଲରେ ରଖନ୍ତୁ। #ନୂଆଁଖାଇଜୁହାର 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YJHaAP2UNt
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 1, 2022
Governor Ganeshi Lal, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and many other eminent personalities also wished the people on the occasion.
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‘Nuakhai’ marks the first harvest of the Kharif season and the crop is offered as ‘prasad’ to God across western Odisha. ‘Nua’ means new and ‘khai’ is food.
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର 🙏
ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି, ମୈତ୍ରୀ ଓ ଆନନ୍ଦର ପରମ୍ପରା ଏବଂ ପର୍ବ ‘ନୂଆଁଖାଇ’ ପାଳନ ଅବସରରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ସମଗ୍ର ରାଜ୍ୟ ବିଶେଷ କରି ପଶ୍ଚିମ ଓଡିଶାର ଭାଇ ଭଉଣୀଙ୍କୁ ଶୁଭେଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି। #ନୂଆଁଖାଇ #NuakhaiJuhar pic.twitter.com/gKRWUQSWcl
— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) September 1, 2022
Farmers worship Mother Earth, expressing their gratitude for the crop, good rain and favourable weather conditions for farming.
As per the tradition, all family members sit together and eat on the occasion, while people working outside visit their homes to celebrate the festival.
Younger people seek the blessings of elders and eat food together on the occasion.
The first harvested crop was offered to Goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur during ‘lagna’ between 10.56 AM and 11.10 AM.
Celebrated a day after Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai is one of the most important festivals in western Odisha and neighbouring areas in Simdega district of Jharkhand.
Nuakhai originates in the Vedic period. It is being celebrated in its current form since 12th century after being celebrated by Chauvan Raja Ramai Deo at Patanagarh in Bolangir district.
The festival is celebrated with gaiety in the districts of Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Boudh and Nuapada.
Celebrations were organised in the temples of Samaleswari, Pataneswari, Sureswari, and Manikeswari deities.
Community function called ‘Nuakhai Bhetghat’ is a major part of the festival, with the performance of traditional Sambalpuri dance forms such Rasarkeli, Dalkhai, Maelajada, Chutku Chuta, Sajani, Nachnia, and Bajnia during the event.
