User:SUJIT PADHAN

{| ! Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth,Tirupati

   On the Occasion Of "Nuakhai" Festival

ନୂଆଁଖାଇ : NUAKHAI
Nuakhai(Odia:ନୂଆଁଖାଇ)(also known as Nabanna)is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha in India. Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. According to the Hindu calendar it is observed on panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhaadra (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha.

Nuakhai is celebrated both at the community and domestic level. The rituals are first observed at the temple of the reigning deity of the area or to the village deity. Afterward, the people worship in their respective homes and offer rituals to their domestic deity and to Lakshmi, the deity of wealth in the Hindu tradition. People wear new clothes for the occasion. It is a tradition that after offering the nua to the presiding deity, the eldest member of the family distributes nua to other members of the family. After taking the nua, all the junior members of the family offer their regards to their elders. Thereafter follows the nuakhai juhar, which is the exchange of greetings with friends, well wishers, and relatives. This symbolizes unity. This is an occasion for people to lay their differences to rest and start relationships afresh. Towards the evening people meet one another, exchanging greetings. All differences are discarded and elders are wished nuakhai juhar. The elders bless their juniors and wish them long life, happiness, and prosperity. Even the partitioned brothers celebrate the festival under one roof. In the evening, folk dances and songs are organized called Nuakhai Bhetghat. People dance to the foot tapping traditional Sambalpuri dance forms like Rasarkeli, Dalkhai, Maelajada, Chutkuchuta, Sajani, Nachnia, and Bajnia.

''Members of this huge family have succeeded to create a home away from home and a family away from family indeed. Honestly  this Nuakhai Bhetghat celebration tied all the family members above all caste and colour together with a wonderful bonding forever and has created an example of unity and fondness forever to be followed by.''

JAI MAA SAMALESWARI

ଜୟ ମାଁ ସମଲେଇ


 * }