Sambalpur/Sonepur: The ‘Lagna’ (auspicious time) for this year’s Nuakhai celebration in Sambalpur and Sonepur districts have been finalised today.
The Brahmamandap Pandit Mahasabha decided the auspicious time at Jhaduapada based- Brahmapura temple for the celebration of the agrarian festival in Sambalpur district.
The Lagna for offering Nabanna (newly-harvested rice) to Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, has been finalised between 9.12 AM and 9.27 AM of September 8.
People will celebrate the Nuakhai festival, one of the important festivals of Western Odisha, after offering the newly-harvested rice to Maa Samaleswari between the auspicious times.
Likewise, the ‘Lagna’ for the Nuakhai celebration in Sonepur district and some of the Western parts of the State was also finalised at Jagannath Mukti Mandapa. As decided, the Nabanna will be offered to the presiding deity between 9.23 AM and 9.37 AM on September 8.
Earlier, the Lagna for Nuakhai celebration in Balangir district was finalised on August 6. It has been decided to offer the Nabanna to the Ishta Devi in between 9.35 AM and 10.6 AM.
Notably, the ‘Nuakhai’ or Nabanna festival is celebrated in Odisha, mostly in the Western districts of the State, to welcome the new paddy crop every year. On this auspicious day, farmers offer new grain to the presiding deities to welcome the new crop. After having the new rice as the offering to the God, later in the afternoon people enjoy themselves organising dance, games etc.
As a significant feature of the festival, younger members seek blessings from their elders in the family as well as the village for good fortune. People also greet each other with a new spirit in a ritual called ‘Nuakhai Bhet’ in local parlance on this day.