Why in news?
The Nuakhai Festival 2025 was celebrated on August 28, 2025, primarily in western Odisha, India.
 
Significance and Traditions

• Nuakhai means "new food," emphasizing the fresh harvest.
• The festival is rooted in Vedic rituals of first grain offerings and was formalized in the 14th century by Raja Ramai Deo of Patna State.
• People perform pujas to village and household deities, and distribute the new rice as blessings.
• The exchange of greetings, Nuakhai Juhar, symbolizes unity and the renewal of relationships.
• Traditional Sambalpuri dance forms like Rasarkeli, Dalkhai, Maelajada, and Sajani are prominent cultural aspects of the event.

Regional Observances

• Celebrated with particular fervor in districts like Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Boudh, and Nuapada in Odisha.
• Large ceremonies take place in temples dedicated to deities such as Samaleswari, Pataneswari, Sureswari, and Manikeswari.
• The festival also has tribal origins and blends tribal customs with Hindu rituals.

Nuakhai is a vibrant harvest festival symbolizing prosperity, gratitude, community bonding, and cultural richness in Western Odisha and adjoining regions.

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