Western Odisha celebrates Nuakhai with great fervor & gaiety

People of Western Odisha are celebrating Nuakhai with great religious fervor and gaiety today.

Nuakhai generally falls during the months of August and September, where it is celebrated just a day after Ganesh Chaturthi.

Maa Samaleswari in Sambalpur, Pataneswari in Bolangir, Manikeswari in Kalahandi and in other places the presiding deities are offered the .Navanna.

‘Navanna’ the first paddy of the khariff season is offered to the Mother Goddess to seek her blessings for a bumper crop in the next harvest season.

On the occasion of Nuakhai festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday greeted the people of Odisha.