Nuakhai Juhar! Odisha Celebrates Its Agrarian Festival; Prez, CM Greet People

Bhubaneswar: Western Odisha is in a celebratory mode. It’s Nuakhai time and people are home to add fervour to the festivities.

President Droupadi Murmu extended Nuakhai greeting to all the countrymen, especially the people of Odisha. “Nuakhai festival is an occasion to express gratitude to the farmers of the country. May this festival bring happiness and prosperity in everyone’s life,” she posted on X.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is also the MP from Sambalpur, extended his heartiest greetings to all on the occasion. “I pray to Lord Shree Jagannath and Maa Samlei for good health, happiness, prosperity and progress of all,” he wrote on X.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also greeted people of Odisha with Nuakhai Juhar. “Wishing everyone prosperity and happiness on this auspicious day and praying for the welfare of the world,” he tweeted.

The CM is scheduled to embark on a two-visit to Sambalpur and launch the CM Kisan Yojana in the western Odisha city on the occasion of Nuakhai festival. He will also participate in ‘Nuakhai Bhetghat’ programmes, besides offering prayer at Maa Samaleswari temple at 12.30 pm.

Nuakhai Bhetghat is the event organised by various social groups to cherish the cultural heritage of western Odisha.

The Odisha government has announced an additional holiday on September 9 for the agrarian festival. All government, government-aided and private schools, all banks and other financial institutions will also remain closed. Odisha Police has also announced one-day Nuakhai leave for its lower ranked personnel posted in western Odisha.

THE FESTIVAL

Meanwhile, Nabanna (season’s first crop) Lagi ritual was offered to Maa Samaleswari ‘between 9.12 am and 9.27. Following which, devotee offered prayers at the temple. This ritual is also performed at popular Peethas of western Odisha like Pataneswari, Lankeswari and Sureswari.

As part of the celebration, people wear new clothes and carry prasad to offer to the deity of the temple.

Nuakhai is celebrated predominantly in western Odisha regions like Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Balangir, and Bargarh districts. The festival falls on the 5th day of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadraba, a day after Ganesh Chatturthi, as per the Odia almanac. It is said to be associated with nine primary colours which in turn are assigned to nine different rituals.

It is observed to welcome the new rice of the season, symbolising the beginning of the harvest season and the significance of agriculture in the region. Though an agrarian festival celebrated with offering made from new crop as an obligation to Mother Earth, it has taken the shape of mass celebration in recent times.

As per the tradition, the farmers offer the first grains of the harvest to the deity and then partake in it. The head of the family worships the household deity and offers first rice cooked with milk and sugar before distributing those among the other members. Several delicacies are also prepared on this special day.

‘Nuakhai Juhar’ is another ritual associated with the festival. It is about exchanging greetings with relatives, friends and well wishers. The festival reinforces the values of gratitude, community bonding, and respect for nature’s bounty. People dress in traditional attire, exchange gifts, and seek blessings from elders, reflecting the cultural richness of western Odisha. Either a community feast is organised or people exchange the food prepared at their homes.

The festival dates back to the Vedic age with the first records of its existence in the 12th century when a certain Raja Ramai Deo saw agriculture as an important entity in maintaining the cohesiveness of a society.

It is also celebrated in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.