Sambalpur: Nuakhai, the agrarian festival of western Odisha, was celebrated with much pomp and splendour in Sambalpur on Saturday.
Devotees in large numbers thronged the temple of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, to invoke her blessings.
The Nabanna (rice out of the first harvested paddy crop) was offered to the Goddess as per stipulated Lagna (auspicious moment) between 9:05 am and 9:15 am by the temple priest.
The festival was also observed in homes, where the head of the family worshipped the household deity by offering rice and other food items. The Pasadena was then consumed by the family members.
To mark the occasion, several cultural and community programmes have been lined up for the evening.
ନୂଆ ଧାନ୍ ସାଙ୍ଗେ ନୂଆ ଆଶା, ଉସତ୍ ଆର୍ ଭାଇଚାରାରେ ପାଲନ୍ କରୁନ୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ। ଇ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍। pic.twitter.com/TOLrWx1rk1
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 26, 2017
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have greeted the people of western Odisha on the auspicious occasion.
Nuakhai Juhar! Good wishes to Odia friends on the festival of Nuakhai. May this festival bring happiness and prosperity in everyone’s lives.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2017
International sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik through his sand sculpture also wished people.
Such a beautiful n lively sandart by @sudarsansand . Splendidly describes the flavour of #NuakhaiJuhar !
pic.twitter.com/zUXaw7dqzm— ଅକାଳ କୁଷ୍ମାଣ୍ଡ 🇮🇳 (Yours sarcastically) (@akala_kushmanda) August 26, 2017
