India, Aug. 28 -- Sambalpur: Western Odisha erupted in festive cheer today as people across towns and villages celebrated Nuakhai, the agrarian festival that marks the arrival of the new rice harvest.
Observed a day after Ganesh Chaturthi in the month of Bhadraba, Nuakhai is deeply rooted in the farming traditions of the region. The festival, whose name is derived from the Odia words "Nua" (new) and "Khai" (to eat), symbolises gratitude, prosperity and the spirit of togetherness.
The celebrations began with the customary offering of the first grains of freshly harvested paddy to Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur. Following this, families performed rituals at home, where the head of the household offered rice and other...