THEBUSINESSBYES BUREAU

SAMBALPUR, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

Western Odisha on Tuesday came alive with the celebration of Nuakhai, the region’s major agrarian festival, as families offered the first harvest of the season to presiding deities and sought the blessings of elders.

Predominantly observed in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Deogarh and Sundargarh districts, Nuakhai was also celebrated in parts of Boudh and Angul. The festival brought together families and communities, with many people living in other parts of Odisha and across the country returning to their native places for the occasion.

President Droupadi Murmu, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik extended greetings to the people on the occasion.

President Murmu said Nuakhai was more than a traditional festival, describing it as a symbol of social and familial bonding strengthened by community feasts and reunions with friends and relatives. She expressed hope that the festival would further strengthen mutual goodwill and harmony and wished people happiness, peace and prosperity.

CM Majhi also extended his greetings, wishing people happiness, peace and prosperity and invoking the blessings of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur.

Patnaik extended a “Nuakhai Juhar” to the people, while State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das also conveyed his greetings.

Rooted in Odisha’s agrarian traditions, Nuakhai is observed as an expression of gratitude for a good harvest, adequate rainfall and favourable weather conditions for farming. The first produce from the fields is offered to the presiding deity as part of the principal ritual.

At home, the head of the family worships the household deity and offers newly harvested rice and other food items before distributing the prasad among family members. The rituals are followed by families sitting together for a traditional meal, reinforcing the festival’s emphasis on togetherness.

One of the most cherished customs associated with Nuakhai is “Nuakhai Juhar”, under which younger members greet their elders and seek their blessings for long life, good health, happiness and prosperity. In rural areas, the tradition extends beyond individual households, with people visiting elders in their neighbourhoods to exchange greetings.

The festive spirit continues into the evening with “Nuakhai Bhetghat” programmes organised by social organisations and community groups. Cultural performances and other events are also held in villages and towns, adding a vibrant public dimension to a festival that remains deeply connected to the rhythms of rural life.

For western Odisha, Nuakhai is thus not merely a celebration of the season’s first grain but a reaffirmation of family ties, community bonds and an enduring relationship with the land that sustains its people.