Bhubaneswar: The non-resident Odias of Dubai celebrated ‘Nuakhai Bhetghat’, the prominent festival of western Odisha, as per tradition and gaiety on Sunday.
The Nuakhai Paribar of United Arab Emirates (UAE) organised the celebration of the festival at the Indian Consulate, Dubai.
The event started with a special arati and puja of the presiding deity of western Odisha, Maa Samaleswari. It was followed by offering of ‘Navanna’ (new rice). The new rice was specially flown in from Bijepur in Bargarh district to prepare the offering to the Goddess.
After the puja, invitees wished each other with the traditional greeting of ‘Nukhai Juhar’ and participated in community feast organised on the occasion.
Several programmes displaying Sambalpuri culture including songs and dance were performed by different troupes comprising local artistes and from outside for amusement of the people. A fashion show was also organised. A special contingent had come from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the event.
The auditorium in the Indian Consulate was converted into a mini-Odisha as people dressed in Sambalpuri costumes thronged in large number to participate in the festival which is tipped to be the largest in-person get-together on the occasion of Nuakhai outside India.
