Culture / Western Odisha Celebrates Nuakhai with Devotion and Unity

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.

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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.