Sambalpur, Aug 28: The agrarian festival of Nuakhai was celebrated with devotion and grandeur across Western Odisha, as villages and towns witnessed a festive atmosphere. Families reunited, homes were filled with joy, and the fragrance of traditional delicacies marked the occasion.
As per tradition, the first offering of the new harvest i.e. Nabanna was made to Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, followed by rituals at Maa Patneswari’s shrine. During the ceremony, priests offered the newly harvested rice along with a Maha Alati to Maa Samaleswari.
This year, the sacred Nabanna ritual was performed on Bhadraba Shukla Panchami (Thursday) between 10:33 am and 10:55 am, under the auspices of the Brahmapura Temple Trust Board. After the rituals at the temple, Nabanna was also offered to the subsidiary deities. Following the tradition, families across Western Odisha later offered the new rice to their household deities before partaking of it together.
Preparations for the ritual had begun days in advance, with freshly harvested paddy delivered to the chief priest five days earlier.
As family members returned home from far and wide, households came alive with celebrations. The joy of togetherness, traditional dishes, and the aroma of freshly made pitha (cakes) filled the air, making Nuakhai a true festival of unity, culture, and gratitude.
