Subarnapur, Sept 15: Nuakhai, the traditional harvest festival of Western Odisha, is celebrated with great enthusiasm as people welcome the new crop and offer it to their presiding deities. However, in the former Gadjats of Subarnapur, the festival has a unique tradition associated with the leaves used for the Nuakhai feast.
For generations, different communities in the region have been following their own traditional practices of eating the new rice on specific leaves. The custom has been passed down from one generation to another and continues to remain an important part of the festival.
While some communities use Mahul leaves, others traditionally use Kurei, Bhalia or Sargi leaves for the Nuakhai meal.
The Kurei leaf is considered sacred by some communities for the festival. The Bhalia leaf is traditionally associated with the Dumbal community, while the Sargi leaf is associated with the Chasa community. The Mahul leaf is traditionally used by the Bhulia community.
The tradition does not end with the selection of leaves for the meal. Before the family consumes the new rice, the first offering is made to the Ishta Devi. Traditional leaf bowls such as Khali, Dana and the larger Khurda are used for preparing and offering the food.
The newly harvested rice, along with Chhatua, Nau Bhaja, Pitha-Pana and other Nabanna preparations, is first offered to the deity. Only after completion of the ritual do family members sit together and consume the new rice.
The practice reflects the close relationship between the people of the region and nature. The same nature that provides the new harvest also provides the leaves used in the traditional rituals.
The Nuakhai tradition of Subarnapur therefore carries a message of unity despite differences in customs. Though communities follow different practices and use different leaves, the central sentiment remains the same-gratitude for the new harvest and respect for nature
With good rainfall this year, farmers are hopeful of a good harvest. As paddy fields sway with the new crop, preparations for Nuakhai have brought festive enthusiasm across Western Odisha.
For the people of Subarnapur, Nuakhai is not merely a harvest festival. It is a tradition that connects generations with the land, food, nature and their cultural roots. The different leaves used by different communities continue to preserve this centuries-old tradition.
