Bhubaneswar, Aug 16: The auspicious timing for Nuakhai, Western Odisha’s most cherished agrarian festival, has been officially announced. This year, the sacred Nabanna Lagna will be observed on August 28, 2025 (Thursday), between 10:33 AM and 10:55 AM, during which devotees will offer the season’s first harvest of rice (Nabanna) to Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur.

According to sources, a host of scholars and priests assembled at the Brahmapura Temple premises in Sambalpur finalized the Lagna after performing traditional rituals including the recitation of Vishnu Sahasranama and astrological calculations based on the Odia almanac. The announcement was made a day after Janmashtami, on the occasion of Nandotsav.

Nuakhai, celebrated on the Panchami Tithi of the Odia month Bhadrab, symbolizes gratitude, unity, and the joy of harvest. The festival begins with the ceremonial offering of Nabanna to the deity, followed by communal feasting, cultural performances, and the traditional greeting Nuakhai Juhar, where people seek blessings from elders and greet neighbors.

The Lagna Patra (auspicious time document) will be formally presented to Goddess Samaleswari by members of the Brahmapura Temple Trust and temple priests. Following the deity’s offering, families across Western Odisha will take Nabanna, consuming the newly harvested rice as a sacred ritual.

Nuakhai is not just a religious observance but a vibrant celebration of Western Odisha’s cultural heritage, featuring Sambalpuri attire, folk dances, and traditional cuisine. It fosters harmony and strengthens community bonds across districts like Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada and parts of south districts in the State.

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