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Sambalpur, Sept 15: Western Odisha on Tuesday reverberated with festive cheer as people celebrated Nuakhai, the region’s most significant agrarian festival. Devotees thronged the Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur to witness the auspicious ritual of offering Nabanna — the first harvest of paddy — to Maa Samaleswari. As per tradition, the chief priest prepared the sacred offering from freshly harvested grains and presented it to the presiding deity between 9:40 AM and 9:54 AM, the designated auspicious time. Also read: Punjab to Host Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026, India to Face Pakistan on Nov 1 Following the ritual, households across Western Odisha partook in the Nuakhai feast, symbolizing gratitude for nature’s bounty and strengthening bonds of unity. The temple premises saw a heavy influx of devotees eager for darshan of Maa Samaleswari. The festival, marked by family gatherings, exchange of greetings, and cultural performances, once again highlighted the deep-rooted connection between people, land, and tradition. Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan extended greetings to the people on the occasion. In his message, he described Nuakhai as a festival of unity, harmony, and respect for elders. ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ 🙏 ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ହେଉଛି ଏକତା, ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ଦ୍ୟ ଓ ସଦ୍ଭାବନାର ପର୍ବ । ନବାନ୍ନ ସେବନ, ବନ୍ଧୁମିଳନ ଓ ଗୁରୁଜନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସମ୍ମାନର ପର୍ବ । ଏହି ପର୍ବ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମିଳିମିଶି କରି ରହିବାର ମହତ ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଦେଉଛି । ଆଜିର ଏହି ମହାନ ଅବସରରେ ମା’ ସମଲେଶ୍ୱରୀଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁଖ, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଓ ମଙ୍ଗଳ କାମନା କରୁଛି । pic.twitter.com/1rF7ihQBs9 — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 15, 2026 “Nuakhai Juhar! This festival conveys the message of living together with goodwill. On this auspicious day, I pray to Maa Samaleswari for everyone’s happiness, prosperity, and well-being,” he tweeted. About Nuakhai Rooted in agrarian traditions, Nuakhai stands as Western Odisha’s grand harvest festival, celebrated with devotion and community spirit. Observed on Bhadrapada/Bhadraba Panchami , the day after Ganesh Chaturthi, it marks the offering of newly harvested rice to deities before families share the sacred food. Beyond Odisha, the festival resonates in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand’s Simdega, reinforcing cultural unity and gratitude for nature’s bounty.

Chandigarh, Sep 14: Punjab will host the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 for the first time, marking a historic moment for the state. On Monday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann unveiled the tournament logo alongside Asian Hockey Federation officials, calling the event “a matter of pride for Punjab.” The championship will run from October 27 to November 5, with league matches in Jalandhar and the semifinals and final in Mohali. The tournament will then shift to Mohali, which will host the semi ‑ finals on November 4 and the grand finale on November 5. Also read: India Refuse To Collect Asia Cup Trophy From Mohsin Naqvi Six leading hockey nations will compete, including India and Pakistan. The much ‑ anticipated India ‑ Pakistan clash on November 1 will coincide with Punjab Day in Jalandhar, adding symbolic significance to the encounter. “ The India ‑ Pakistan encounter on November 1 in Jalandhar will be one of the biggest attractions of the tournament. The match will coincide with Punjab Day, making the occasion even more special for the people of Punjab. India and Pakistan may have their rivalries on the hockey field, but sport has its own language,” CM Mann said. The Chief Minister announced that the government has allocated ₹25.40 crore for the organisation of the championship. He emphasized that the entire state machinery will work to ensure its success. In a major move to promote hockey among youth, entry to all matches will be free. Calling the event “an emotional homecoming of the sport,” CM Mann said, “The historic Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 is not merely a hockey tournament for Punjab. It is an emotional homecoming of the sport to the land that has nurtured generations of Indian hockey heroes. For the first time, Punjab is hosting an international hockey tournament of this stature on its own soil.” He added, “The Punjab government is determined to make it an unforgettable sporting spectacle for players, spectators and hockey lovers across India and the world. Punjab is synonymous with hockey — the game and Punjabis are two sides of the same coin.” Tracing Punjab’s rich hockey legacy, Mann highlighted villages like Sansarpur, Khusropur and Mithapur, which have produced Olympians and national champions. “Punjab has produced more than 50 Olympic medallists and 10 national captains, including legends like Olympian Balbir Singh Sr., Udham Singh and Ajit Pal Singh. Even today, this tradition continues. During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Punjab had 10 players representing India, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the national side,” he said. The Chief Minister stressed that hosting the Asian Champions Trophy is not just about competition but about celebrating Punjab’s identity as the heartland of Indian hockey. “Every visiting player should feel that Punjab has provided them with facilities of international standard, and every spectator should feel proud of the experience,” he said. He also noted that Pakistan’s participation adds a unique dimension to the championship. “The hockey federations on both sides have maintained cordial sporting relations. The state government wants the tournament to reflect the true spirit of competition, intense on the field but respectful beyond it,” Mann concluded. (IANS)