Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Jayanarayan Mishra has demanded the state government to announce 2-day holiday for ‘Nuakhai’ festival.
In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the BJP MLA said Nuakhai, one of the most prominent festivals in western Odisha, is celebrated by all in the region in a great way.
“Nuakhai is celebrated in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Kalahandi and other districts of Western Odisha just after rainy season. The first crop of the villagers are produced before Maa Samalei, Maa Manikeswari and local temples as prasad in a traditional way. All the family members take prasad under one roof and seek blessings of the elders on the occasion,” Mishra wrote.
He further said those who are staying outside Odisha also rush to their homes so that they can celebrate the festival with their relatives, family members and friends.
Besides, the festival is celebrated abroad where people of Western Odisha could not make it convenient to come to Odisha. “Nua Khai Bhet Ghat” is also celebrated in various part of New Delhi with MPs participating in the function.
Pointing out that the state government has declared one day holiday for its employees to celebrate the festival on September 1, he said it was ‘injustice’ to the people of Western Odisha. “Though the government has officially declared September 1 as Nuakhai holiday, the district administration is not allowing the government employees/general public to observe this festival for two days,” he added.
Mishra requested the chief minister to declare local holidays for two days to celebrate Nuakhai in Western Odisha.
