What is Nuakhai?
Nuakhai is the 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 local calendar, it is observed on Panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhadraba (August–September according to Georgian calendar), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha. This festival is also celebrated in some regions of Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh, where Odia culture is much predominant. Its coastal counterpart is Nabanna, observed in Coastal Odisha.
About the festival
Nuakhai is also called Nuakhai Parab or Nuakahi Bhetghat. Actually, the Bhetghat starts after the main puja at the Devi. The word NUA means new and KHAI means food, so the name means the farmers are in possession of the newly harvested rice. The festival is seen as a new ray of hope, held the day after the Ganesha Chaturthi festival. It has a big significance for farmers and the agricultural community. The festival celebrated at a particular time of day which is called lagan. Arisaa pithaa is prepared to celebrate this festival. When the lagan comes, the people first remember their village god or goddess and then have their nua.
Nuakhai is the agricultural festival of people of Western Odisha. The festival is observed throughout Odisha, but it is particularly important in the life and culture of Western Odisha. It is a festival for the worship of food grain. It has its best celebration in the Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Boudh and Nuapada districts of Odisha.
Photos of 2019 Nuakhai
The Nuakhai is celebrated on 3rd September in 2019 and we saw lots of photos on different social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. And we had collected a few pictures from some of our friends.
From Sonali Panda
One of our friends Sonali Panda had shared some beautiful photos of Nuakhai from her place from preparation to the celebration and also post celebration.
As we have mentioned about the Arisha Pitha before, this is the best thing in Nuakhai, which almost all prepared in their places.
Nuakhai is all about happiness, so all the family members come to the home for this occasion and they enjoy the day together. They worship together, pray together, eat together and so stay together.
The day after Nuakhai, the female members of the home celebrates SATHI OSHA. The mothers of the home mainly celebrate this festival for their Children.
* All the photo rights are reserved to Sonali Mam, before using them take her permission and follow her on Instagram @thecooking_shaukeen.
* All the photo rights are reserved to Sonali Mam, before using them take her permission and follow her on Instagram @thecooking_shaukeen.
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