Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Nuakhai is being celebrated in western Odisha for the second successive year where the Balangir district administration has also issued guidelines that restrict public celebration.
According to the reports, the highly-anticipated Western Odisha harvest festival is celebrated in a subdued manner without any congregation in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset of the festival, ‘Nabanna’ (porridge prepared from new paddy crop) will be offered to the Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of western Odisha, to seek blessings for a bumper harvest.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people and lauded the outstanding efforts of farmers and their role in nation-building. In a tweet, he said, “Nuakhai Juhar! Greetings to everyone on this auspicious occasion. On Nuakhai we laud the outstanding efforts of our industrious farmers and their role in nation-building. I pray for everyone’s good health and well-being.”
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also greeted the Odisha people and applauded the efforts of the farmers.
