Bolangir: The grand festival of western Odisha, ‘Nuakhai,’ will be celebrated on September 8 in Bolangir district.
An announcement has been made by the Household office of the Patna State in Bolangir. The auspicious moment, or ‘lagna,’ has been determined by the Lagna Nirnayaka Committee of the Jyotisha Pandita Mahasabha of Balangir district.
According to reports, the ‘lagna’ for Nuakhai has been declared, honouring the traditions of the Patna state. The festival will take place on September 8, coinciding with the fifth day of the ‘sukla’ phase of the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadraba. The ‘nabanna’ offering to the Ishta Devi is scheduled between 9:35 am and 10:06 am.
Nuakhai, or the Nabanna festival, is an annual celebration marking the arrival of the new paddy crop. On this day, farmers present the new grain to their deities as a token of the new harvest. Following the offering, the afternoon is filled with festivities, including dances and games.
A notable tradition of Nuakhai is the younger family members seeking blessings from their elders for prosperity. Additionally, people exchange greetings in a spirit of renewal during a ritual known as ‘Nuakhai Bhet’ in the local language.
