Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greeted people on the occasion of Nuakhai on Wednesday.
Calling it an occasion of brotherhood and mutual harmony, the President prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the country.
କୃଷିଭିତ୍ତିକ ଗଣପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତ ଦେଶବାସୀ, ବିଶେଷ କରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭକାମନା ! ଧାନ ଅମଳର ଆନନ୍ଦ ଉଲ୍ଲାସ ଭିତରେ ଏହି ପର୍ବ ପାଳିତ ହୋଇଥାଏ । ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଆମକୁ ଭ୍ରାତୃତ୍ୱ ଓ ପାରସ୍ପରିକ ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ଦ୍ୟର ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଦେଇଥାଏ । ଏହି ଶୁଭ ଅବସରରେ ଦେଶ ତଥା ଦେଶବାସୀଙ୍କ ସୁଖ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ନିମନ୍ତେ ମୁଁ…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 20, 2023
PM Modi also wished people of Odisha on Nuakhai in Odia and so also Home Minister Amit Shah.
ନୂଆଁଖାଇର ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା । ଆଜି ଆମର ଚାଷୀଙ୍କ ପରିଶ୍ରମକୁ କୃତଜ୍ଞତା ଜଣାଇବାର ଅବସର । ମୁଁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କର ଉତ୍ତମ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ମଙ୍ଗଳ କାମନା କରୁଛି । ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ !
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2023
My heartfelt greetings to the sisters and brothers of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai. May the blessings of Maa Samaleswari bring us peace and prosperity.
ନୂଆଖାଇର ଶୁଭ ଅବସରରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଭାଇ ଏବଂ ଭଉଣୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହୃଦୟରୁ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା I ମା’ ସମଲେଶ୍ୱରୀଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ଆମମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 20, 2023
The CM wrote on X: “My greetings and best wishes to all on the occasion of the agricultural fair. May your life be filled with happiness and prosperity with the blessings of Maa Samleswari”
କୃଷିଭିତ୍ତିକ ଗଣପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଶୁଭକାମନା। ମା’ ସମଲେଶ୍ବରୀଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦରୁ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ସୁଖ, ସମୃଦ୍ଧିରେ ଭରିଯାଉ। #ନୂଆଁଖାଇଜୁହାର 🙏 pic.twitter.com/AuUpdQ6NEP
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 20, 2023
Nuakhai is an annual harvest festival of Odisha, which is known for celebrating 13 festivals in 12 months as said popularly in Odia ‘Bara Maasa re Teraa Parba’. The literal meaning of Nuakhai is ‘Nua’ means New and ‘khai’ means eating.
The agrarian festival is observed on Panchami Tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhadraba (August–September), the day after Ganesh Chaturthi. It is celebrated with pomp and gaiety in several districts, including Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Boudh and Sonepur, where people worship their presiding deities as a mark of gratitude for bumper crops, good rain and favourable weather for farming.
Oral tradition of this festival dates back to 12th century when it was celebrated by Chauvan Raja Ramai Deo at Patanagarh in Balangir district of Odisha.
This year, the first harvested crop, ‘Nabanna’, will be offered to the goddess in Sambalpur at the stipulated Lagna (auspicious moment) between between 10.27 am and 10.42 am. Apart from the usual rituals, the celebrations of Nuakhai include wearing of new clothes, worshipping the presiding deity and having a sumptuous lunch with the entire family. The tradition of Nuakhai Bhet Ghat is observed with family members and relatives the following day.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Odisha government has declared a special local holiday for the day following Nuakhai on September 21 (Thursday) for Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada and Jharsuguda besides in Sadar, Panposh and Bonai subdivisions of Sundargarh
