Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 6: The ‘lagna’ (auspicious time) for offering ‘Nabanna’ (new crop) during the Nuakhai festival in Balangir has been announced.
The festival, an important agrarian celebration in western Odisha, will be observed on September 8, falling on the fifth day of the ‘sukla’ (bright) fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadraba. According to a release from the Shailashree Palace household office, ‘Nabanna’ will be offered to the presiding deities between 9:35 am and 10:06 am.
The timing of the lagna has been determined based on the zodiac and Nakshatra of Maa Pataneswari and the king of Patanagarh.
While Nuakhai traditionally celebrates the new crop harvest, it has evolved into a grand festival in recent years. It is now celebrated with much pomp in several districts, including Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Boudh, and Sonepur.
In rural areas, the festival features ‘Nuakhai Bhet Bhat’ (community gatherings) where younger people seek blessings from elders with ‘Nuakhai Juhar’ (obeisance). The celebrations often include a community feast or the sharing of home-prepared dishes.
