Sambalpur, Sept 6: The auspicious lagna for Nuakhai 2026, the grand agrarian festival of Western Odisha, has been finalised for September 15, 2026, which falls on Bhadrava Shukla Panchami.
According to the decision, the auspicious window for the festival will be from 9:40 AM to 9:54 AM on Tuesday.
During this auspicious period, Nabaanna (newly harvested rice) will be offered to Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Western Odisha, at the Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur. Following the offering, people across Western Odisha will traditionally partake in the new harvest.
The lagna was finalised by the Brahmapura Temple Trust Board in Sambalpur. A panel of priests assembled at the Brahmapura Temple and calculated the auspicious timing after studying the rashi and nakshatra of Maa Samaleswari.
Nuakhai holds immense cultural and agricultural significance in Western Odisha. The festival celebrates the arrival of the new harvest and reflects the region's deep-rooted connection with agriculture, tradition and community.
