Sun Sep 08 05:55:41 UTC 2024: – Nuakhai, a major agrarian festival, was celebrated in Western Odisha with enthusiasm and religious fervour
– The festival marks the beginning of the new rice harvest and includes traditional rituals and ceremonies
– The first harvested crop is offered to Goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur, followed by a ceremonial meal with family members
– Nuakhai signifies gratitude for bumper crops, good rain, and favourable weather for farming activities
– The festival reinforces values of gratitude, community bonding, and respect for nature’s bounty
– Families and communities come together to offer the first produce of the harvest to their deities, reflecting the cultural richness of Western Odisha
– The festival typically falls on the day after Ganesh Chaturthi and is a celebration of the new harvest season and prosperity

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