Nuakhai Greetings Pour In; It Not Just A Festival, It Is Our Identity, Says Odisha CM

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!