People across western Odisha celebrated Nuakhai, the state’s major agrarian festival, on Tuesday, with families offering the season’s first harvest to presiding deities and seeking blessings from elders.
The festival is predominantly observed in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Deogarh, and Sundargarh districts. Boudh and Angul also celebrated the festival.
Scores of people living in various parts of the state and country returned to their ancestral homes to celebrate the auspicious occasion alongside their families.
President Droupadi Murmu, who hails from Odisha, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik extended warm greetings to citizens on the occasion.
In a social media message, President Murmu highlighted that Nuakhai goes beyond traditional festivities, serving as a symbol of social and familial bonding through community feasts and friend reunions.
“I believe that through this festival, mutual goodwill and harmony will be further strengthened. On the occasion of Nuakhai, I wish everyone happiness, peace, and prosperity,” she said in a social media post.
“The great culture and traditions of Western Odisha are symbolized by the Badkha Tihar festival. My dear Odia brethren, greetings on this new Badkha Tihar. May the compassionate Mother keep everyone in joy,” Kambhampati said in his greetings.
ପଶ୍ଚିମ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ମହାନ୍ ସଂସ୍କୃତି, ପରମ୍ପରାର ନିଶାନି ବଡଖା ତିହାର ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଉଧେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ମୋର୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍। ମାଁ କରୁଣାମୟୀ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଖୁସିରେ ରଖିଥାଉନ୍। pic.twitter.com/v5QovqWUYk
— Governor Odisha (@GovernorOdisha) September 15, 2026
Extending his wishes for peace and prosperity, Chief Minister Majhi expressed hope that the blessings of Goddess Samaleswari would bring joy to everyone’s lives.
“On the occasion of the agrarian festival Nuakhai, greetings and salutations to all during this auspicious time. May the grace of Mother Samaleshwari fill everyone’s life with happiness, peace, and prosperity,” CM Majhi wrote in a post shared from his X handle.
କୃଷିଭିତ୍ତିକ ଗଣପର୍ବ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଓ ଜୁହାର । ମା’ ସମଲେଶ୍ୱରୀଙ୍କ କୃପାରୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧିରେ ଭରିଯାଉ। pic.twitter.com/CaFOeqTmx9
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) September 15, 2026
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik offered a traditional “Nuakhai Juhar” to the people of Odisha, while Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhakta Charan Das also conveyed his greetings.
“On this sacred Nuakhai, may you be blessed with happiness, peace, and prosperity. A heartfelt Nuakhai Juhar to you all. 🙏 Jai Maa Samalei 🙏,” Patnaik said in a social media post.
“To the people of Western Odisha, on this sacred Nuakhai—greetings to all brothers, sisters, and farmer brothers and sisters from my family. Nuakhai is our mother, the farmer, and a unique festival of our rich cultural tradition. May every family be filled with happiness, peace, and prosperity by the blessings of Maa Samaleswari and Maa Manikeswari. Nuakhai Juhaar!” said Das in a video post.
Nuakhai is traditionally celebrated as a thanksgiving ritual for a bountiful harvest, sufficient rainfall, and favorable agricultural weather, centered around offering the first yields to local deities.
During the rituals, the head of each household performs prayers to the family deity, offering newly harvested rice and food preparations before distributing the prasad, followed by a family feast where all sit together for a meal.
A cornerstone tradition of the festival is ‘Nuakhai Juhar,’ where younger family members show respect to elders to receive blessings for health, longevity, and prosperity, a practice extended across neighbouring households in rural areas.
To mark the occasion, community groups and social organizations host ‘Nuakhai Bhetghat’ meets in the evening, alongside various cultural programs held across in villages and towns.
