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Bhubaneswar: All banks and other banking institutions will remain closed on September 1 (Thursday) in Odisha on the occasion of Nuakhai, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department informed on Monday.
The state government has already declared September 1 as a holiday for Nuakhai this year.
It is an agrarian festival where ‘Nabanna’ (porridge prepared from newly-harvested crop) is offered to Goddess Samalei, Goddess Manikeswari and many other deities in western Odisha. The oral tradition of Nuakhai dates back to the 12th century when this festival was celebrated by Chauvan Raja Ramai Deo at Patanagarh, which is currently in Balangir district.
The preparations start almost two weeks before the festival. Nine sets of rituals are followed as a prelude to the actual day, starting from Behrana to Nuakhai and all culminating in Juhar Bhet. Nuakhai Juhar, which is the exchange of greetings with friends, well-wishers, and relatives, symbolises unity as people forget their past difference and start afresh.
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