In a series of tweets, Pradhan wished people peace, prosperity and good health on the auspicious occasion.
The Union Minister has appealed to people of the State to take the vaccine against Covid-19. He has also urged people to encourage others to take the vaccine and spread awareness about the appropriate behaviour of the virus.
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ #NuakhaiJuhar ?? pic.twitter.com/Xxt1mpZksO — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 11, 2021
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ ?
ନୂଆଁଖାଇର୍ ଉଧେ ମାଏନ୍ତା ଗୁରୁଜନ୍, ମାଁ ବହେନ୍ ଆଉ ଦାଦା – ଭାଏ ମାନକୁଁ ସଭ୍କେ “ଜୁହାର୍” କରୁଛେଁ । ଆପନ୍ ମାନ୍କଁର୍ ଜୀବନ୍ ଥି, ପରିବାର୍ ଥି ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ରହୁ ଆଉ ସଭେଁ ନିରାମୟ ଜୀବନ ଜିଉଁନ୍, ଇଟା କାମ୍ନା କରୁଛେଁ । #NuakhaiJuhar pic.twitter.com/J1ziun6blN — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 11, 2021
Nuakhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha and Southern Chhattisgarh. It is observed to welcome the new rice of the season.
According to the calendar it is observed on panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadraba (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
As per the customary practice, people offer the new grains of crops to the deities before their own consumption. It is also a festival of social cohesion as all the members of the family come together to celebrate Nuakhai.
However, the festival has turned into a sombre affair for the second successive year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.