On the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai, the sacred offering of Nabanna (newly harvested rice) was made to Maa Samalei at the revered Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur district.
The ritual, performed between 10:33 AM and 10:55 AM by three designated priests, marked the spiritual commencement of the harvest season in Western Odisha.
Following the offering, the temple doors were opened to devotees for darshan, allowing thousands to pay homage to the goddess. Chief priest Ambika Ray confirmed the ceremonial timeline and the temple’s readiness to welcome worshippers.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Odisha Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Panchayatiraj Minister Rabi Nayak, and Sambalpur MLA Jaynarayan Mishra, participated in the festivities. The Samaleswari Temple Trust Board also hosted correspondents from 29 national media houses at the Bhogamandap to receive Nabanna.
Nuakhai, celebrated predominantly in districts like Sambalpur, Bolangir, Bargarh, and Kalahandi, is more than a harvest festival—it’s a cultural cornerstone. Families gather to share meals made from the season’s first grains, seek blessings from elders, and resolve past disputes. The festival fosters unity, gratitude, and reverence for nature’s bounty.
As the aroma of freshly cooked rice fills homes and temples echo with chants, Nuakhai 2025 once again reaffirms the deep-rooted traditions and communal harmony of Western Odisha.
