Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have greeted the people of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai.
In a video message, Naveen said that Nuakhai is not only a festival but an identity of our art, culture and tradition. “I pray to Maa Samaleswari that may you all have a happy and prosperous life,” he added.
He also appealed to the people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour while celebrating the festival.
Nuakhai is a combination of two words – ‘nua’ meaning new and ‘khai’ which means food stands for new rice, suggesting that the farmers are in possession of newly harvested rice.
This agrarian festival is about celebrating the hard work of our farmers due to whose efforts our nation is fed. It is being observed in the state in a subdued manner without any congregation in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The preparations, however, 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.
‘Nabanna’ (porridge prepared from new paddy crop) is offered to Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of western Odisha, to seek blessings for a bumper harvest.
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.
Nuakhai Juhar!
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍
ଏହି ପବିତ୍ର ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭକାମନା । ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଅବସରରେ ଆମେ ଆମ ଚାଷୀ ଭାଇଙ୍କ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ ଉଦ୍ୟମ ଓ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ନିର୍ମାଣରେ ଯୋଗଦାନକୁ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରିବା ।
ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କର ଉତ୍ତମ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଓ ଉତ୍ତୋରତ୍ତର ଉନ୍ନତି କାମନା କରୁଛି ।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2021
ଗଣପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇର୍ ଲାଗି ସମକୁ ହୁରୁଦରୁ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଆର୍ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ୍। ତିହାର୍ ଭିତରେବି ସଭେ କୋଭିଡ୍ ନିୟମ୍ ମାନୁନ୍। ମାଁ ସମଲେଇ ସମକୁ ସୁଖ୍ ଶାନ୍ତି ଥି ବନେ କରି ରଖିଥାଉନ୍। #ନୂଆଁଖାଇଜୁହାର ? pic.twitter.com/AsIUhLzBVU
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 11, 2021
Heartiest greetings on Nuakhai. May this festival bring happiness & prosperity in everyone’s lives.#NuakhaiJuhar pic.twitter.com/cgBd6jfsZM
— Arjun Munda (@MundaArjun) September 11, 2021
Greetings on the harvest festival of Nuakhai Juhar!
My deepest gratitude to our farmer friends whose hard work has ensured food security to the nation. May this auspicious occasion bring about prosperity and good health to everyone.#NuakhaiJuhar ? pic.twitter.com/DruEAJv8ZV— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 11, 2021
On the auspicious occasion of Western Odisha’s biggest festival – #Nuakhai. My Nuakhai Juhars to all our brothers and sisters from Paschim Odisha. May Maa Patneshwari, Samaleshwari, Dasmati and Sureshwari bless us all with Sukh, Shanti, Samriddhi, Aarogya and Soubhaghya. pic.twitter.com/PeMdnRgXSM
— Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo (@sksingh_deo) September 11, 2021
I extend my warm wishes on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai Juhar!
The ancient festival mark the worship of foodgrains & celebrate our farmer’s hardwork.
May this festival brings good health, happiness, peace & prosperity.— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 11, 2021
Heartiest greetings on Nuakhai. May the new harvest bring happiness & prosperity for all. #NuakhaiJuhar pic.twitter.com/cRdceGQMMt
— Jual Oram (@jualoram) September 11, 2021
