The harvest festival of ‘Nuakhai’ was celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion across western Odisha on Thursday. Rooted in the region’s farming traditions, the festival marks the offering of the season’s first harvest, known as ‘Nabanna’.
As per the auspicious timing fixed by the priests, the ritual of offering Nabanna was performed at the famous Maa Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur.
The temple rituals began at 4 AM when the sanctum was opened. After the deity was bathed and adorned in new attire, the first harvest was ceremonially offered to the goddess and 115 other deities within the temple complex between 10:33 AM and 10:55 AM. This was followed by a sacred ‘Mangala Arati’, after which devotees could seek blessings.
Following the temple rituals, residents of Sambalpur consumed the new harvest in their homes.
As per tradition, after the offering at Samaleswari Temple, people across the district observe the festival at their homes with family members, sharing the new grain as a mark of gratitude and togetherness.
From rich to poor, families received Nabanna from their elders and sat together to partake in the ceremonial meal.
The festival is a rich part of western Odisha’s social and cultural fabric, bringing joy and harmony to households. The celebration also included cultural events like folk songs, dances, and community gatherings, known as ‘Nuakhai Bhetghat’ (meet and greet events).
For Sambalpur and western Odisha, Nuakhai is not just a festival but an emotional celebration that symbolises gratitude to nature and prayers for a prosperous year ahead.
Dignitaries including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha’s former CM and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik extended their greetings for the festival.
Both President Murmu and PM Modi shared messages on their ‘X’ handles, highlighting the festival’s focus on expressing gratitude to farmers and praying for prosperity and happiness.
“On the occasion of the agriculture-based Nuakhai festival, I wish heartfelt congratulations to all countrymen, especially to the people of Odisha. This festival is a sacred opportunity to express respect for agriculture and gratitude towards farmers. It is a symbol of goodwill and intimacy. I wish Nuakhai fills everyone’s life with happiness, peace and prosperity,” wrote President Murmu on her X handle.
କୃଷିଭିତ୍ତିକ ଗଣପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ଦେଶବାସୀ ବିଶେଷକରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଜଣାଉଛି । କୃଷି ପ୍ରତି ସମ୍ମାନ ଏବଂ କୃଷକଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି କୃତଜ୍ଞତା ହେଉଛି ଏହି ପର୍ବର ବିଶେଷତ୍ଵ । ଏହା ଆମ ବନ୍ଧୁତ୍ୱ ଓ ଆତ୍ମୀୟତାର ପ୍ରତୀକ ମଧ୍ୟ । ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଜୀବନକୁ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧିରେ ଭରିଦେଉ, ଏହା ମୋର…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 28, 2025
Taking to his X handle, PM Modi wrote, “Wishing everyone a joyous Nuakhai. This cherished festival is a reminder of our deep gratitude to the farmers whose hard work sustains us all. May there be good health, prosperity and happiness in every home.”
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati said, “My heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of the mass festival #Nuakhai of Western Odisha. May everyone’s life be filled with happiness and prosperity by the blessings of Mother Samlei.”
Odisha CM Majhi also expressed his greetings to the people of the state and said: “Our culture, prosperity and symbol of unity, Nuakhai, I congratulate and salute you. May this Nuakhai, which has come carrying new hopes, fill your life with happiness, peace and prosperity, this is what I am praying for in the cave of my heart. #Nuakhai.”
Replying to PM’s Nuakhai message, Majhi in a social media post said: “Honourable and illustrious Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, on behalf of the people of Odisha, heartfelt Nuakhai greetings. This message of your good wishes is a reflection of your deep respect and honour towards the farmer brothers of Odisha. Our hardworking farmers are indeed our Annadatas and the backbone of the nation. I express my gratitude for your continuous efforts towards the welfare and development of all Annadatas of Odisha as well as the country.”
Patnaik expressed his heartfelt greetings to the people. In a video message, he said: “On the eve of the auspicious Nuakhai festival, I extend greetings to the people of Odisha with ‘Nuakhai Juhar’.”
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ 🙏🏻
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଉଧେ ସମ୍ କୁ ମୋର୍ ଗୁର୍ଦୁଟେ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଆର୍ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ୍। ମା' ସମଲେଇଙ୍କର୍ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ୍ ସମ୍ କର୍ ଉପରେ ଥାଉ।
ଜଏ ମା' ସମଲେଇ 🙏🏻#NuakhaiJuhar pic.twitter.com/7iQPpa4GOO
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 28, 2025
Majhi, in a video message, said: “The practice of offering ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ (respect) to elders, receiving blessings, and celebrating with dance, music, pitha (cake), and pana (betel) carries forward a unique legacy of togetherness. On this day, I urge students, youth, workers, farmers, and soldiers to dedicate themselves to their responsibilities and contribute to building a developed Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047.”
ଆମର୍ ସଂସ୍କୃତି, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଆର୍ ଏକତାର ପ୍ରତୀକ୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ତିହାର୍ ଉଧେ ସମ୍କୁ ମୋର୍ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ୍ ଆର୍ ଜୁହାର୍ ।
ନୂଆଁ ଆଶା ନେଇକରି ଆସିଥିବାର୍ ଇ ତିହାର୍ ସମକର୍ ଜୀବନଥି ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଆର୍ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଭରିଦେଉ, ଇଟା ହିଁ ମୁଇଁ ମାଁ ସମଲେଇଙ୍କର ପାହାତଲେ ଗୁହାରି କରୁଛେଁ। #Nuakhai #ନୂଆଁଖାଇ pic.twitter.com/uE7a9dPW5P
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) August 28, 2025
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is an MP from Sambalpur, came down to his constituency and celebrated Nuakhai with people. Along with his wife, Pradhan ate ‘nabanna’ (new food) with the family members of Shamsunder Pati at Sindurpanka village. “Nuakhai is not just a festival but an emotion. Coming together and eating navanna together is the speciality of Nuakhai festival,” he said.
ଜୟ ମା’ ସମଲେଇ 🙏
‘ନୂଆଁଖାଇ’ରେ ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ଅଧିଷ୍ଠାତ୍ରୀ ଦେବୀ ମା’ ସମଲେଶ୍ୱରୀଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ନେବା ମୋର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ । ଆତ୍ମୀୟତା, ଚାଷୀ ଓ ଚାଷର ଉନ୍ନତି ଏବଂ ସାସ୍କୃତିକ ସମାହାରର ପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ । ଏହି ବିଶେଷ ଉତ୍ସବ ସମାଜରେ କରୁଣା, ଭାଇଚାରା ଓ ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ଦ୍ୟ ଭାବନା ତିଆରି କରୁ, ଏହା ମା’ଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା । pic.twitter.com/RHYRqi80ph
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 28, 2025
