Nuakhai – The blissful harvest festival uniting people
Nuakhai, the pristine festival of rejoicing and glorifying the newly harvested rice, is celebrated majorly in the western part of Odisha. This festival is also called by other names such as Nuakhai Parab or Nuakhai Bhetghat. If we break the word Nuakhai, we get nua which means new and khai means food. This festival holds immense significance for the farmers as they worship their first food grain being harvested.
When is Nuakhai celebrated ?
Nuakhai is generally celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada or Bhaadra (August – September), a day after Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, it will be observed on 11th September.
Traditional Festivities
This event is observed at a particularly auspicious time of the day which is called ‘Lagna’ and the newly harvested rice is offered to Goddess Samaleswari. The head of the family offers his prayers to the household deity and then the new rice is cooked and savoured among the family members with other food delicacies. Odisha’s renowned rice cake, Arisa pithaa, is also prepared to celebrate this festival.
Celebrations Galore
All family members wear new clothes to mark the festival. Nuakhai Juhar is also a major ritual of this festival in which the younger generation seeks blessings from their elders. This elevates the bonding and unity among the family members and relatives as they wish for each other’s happiness and success. On the advent of this festival, numerous cultural and social programmes are held showcasing the local culture and traditions of the society to commemorate the agricultural festival.
As Sujata Mishra, Principal of S.C.S (Autonomous) College, Puri recalls her childhood memories, ” Nuakhai is a big festival in our vicinity. We used to celebrate in our paternal grandparents’ place. It accounted for a joyous atmosphere as we used to wear new dresses and the aroma of food delicacies, which was specially prepared for this occasion, enticed us. We siblings used to distribute the Prasad along with other food items among our neighbours. The blissful event was a great way of reuniting with all our cousins and extended family members.”
Another resident of Sambalpur, Mrs Debjani Mishra gives her valuable opinion as she says, “More than a celebration of fertility and harvest, Nuakhai transcends similar festivities world over by facilitating a harmonious social cohesion/interaction- the young seeking the blessings of their elders and the latter showering love on them, preparation of meals (from the new harvest) to be offered to the tutelary deity before being taken together by the whole family, wearing new clothes and boisterously greeting one another, rising above all differences.”
She continues, ” Nuakhai is an exemplary celebration in being both a social and religious ritual wherein the unity of entire peoples is promoted through the common annual harvest.”
Keeping Celebrations Safe
With the concern of coronavirus in mind, the government has levied some restrictions on the celebrations. People are being advised to keep their movements limited and to maintain social distance. Strict COVID-19 guidelines must be followed to make this celebration joyous but safe !!
Please tell us your comments in the comments sections, how did you celebrate Nuakhai and what importance does it hold for you ?
Nuakhai – The blissful harvest festival uniting people
Nuakhai, the pristine festival of rejoicing and glorifying the newly harvested rice, is celebrated majorly in the western part of Odisha. This festival is also called by other names such as Nuakhai Parab or Nuakhai Bhetghat. If we break the word Nuakhai, we get nua which means new and khai means food. This festival holds immense significance for the farmers as they worship their first food grain being harvested.
When is Nuakhai celebrated ?
Nuakhai is generally celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada or Bhaadra (August – September), a day after Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, it will be observed on 11th September.
Traditional Festivities
This event is observed at a particularly auspicious time of the day which is called ‘Lagna’ and the newly harvested rice is offered to Goddess Samaleswari. The head of the family offers his prayers to the household deity and then the new rice is cooked and savoured among the family members with other food delicacies. Odisha’s renowned rice cake, Arisa pithaa, is also prepared to celebrate this festival.
Celebrations Galore
All family members wear new clothes to mark the festival. Nuakhai Juhar is also a major ritual of this festival in which the younger generation seeks blessings from their elders. This elevates the bonding and unity among the family members and relatives as they wish for each other’s happiness and success. On the advent of this festival, numerous cultural and social programmes are held showcasing the local culture and traditions of the society to commemorate the agricultural festival.
As Sujata Mishra, Principal of S.C.S (Autonomous) College, Puri recalls her childhood memories, ” Nuakhai is a big festival in our vicinity. We used to celebrate in our paternal grandparents’ place. It accounted for a joyous atmosphere as we used to wear new dresses and the aroma of food delicacies, which was specially prepared for this occasion, enticed us. We siblings used to distribute the Prasad along with other food items among our neighbours. The blissful event was a great way of reuniting with all our cousins and extended family members.”
Another resident of Sambalpur, Mrs Debjani Mishra gives her valuable opinion as she says, “More than a celebration of fertility and harvest, Nuakhai transcends similar festivities world over by facilitating a harmonious social cohesion/interaction- the young seeking the blessings of their elders and the latter showering love on them, preparation of meals (from the new harvest) to be offered to the tutelary deity before being taken together by the whole family, wearing new clothes and boisterously greeting one another, rising above all differences.”
She continues, ” Nuakhai is an exemplary celebration in being both a social and religious ritual wherein the unity of entire peoples is promoted through the common annual harvest.”
Keeping Celebrations Safe
With the concern of coronavirus in mind, the government has levied some restrictions on the celebrations. People are being advised to keep their movements limited and to maintain social distance. Strict COVID-19 guidelines must be followed to make this celebration joyous but safe !!
Please tell us your comments in the comments sections, how did you celebrate Nuakhai and what importance does it hold for you ?
