VP, CM greet Odia people for 'Nuakhai' fest

Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal, chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of 'Nuakhai', a harvest festival.

"The festival reminds us of the important role of agriculture in our lives from time immemorial. Let us salute farmers of the country on this auspicious day and take a pledge to improve their lot," Naidu said in a twitter post.

"May this festival bring cheer, joy, prosperity and happiness to all! #NuakhaiJuhar ... My greetings to the people in Odisha and Jharkhand on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai, the harvest festival," the Vice-president said.

While Governor Ganeshi Lal greeted the people on the occasion in a special message and wished them happiness and prosperity, the chief minister extended wishes to the people by tweeting in Sambalpuri.

A number of distinguished persons and union ministers including Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma took to twitter handle to greet the people of Odisha wishing happiness and prosperity in everyones lives.

"Heartiest greetings on Nuakhai. May the new harvest bring happiness & prosperity for all," Oram tweeted.

"Warm wishes to the brothers & sisters of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai. May Maa Samaleswari shower happiness, peace & prosperity to all," said Sharma.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik was also among those who greeted people on the occasion and prayed for peace, harmony and prosperity.

Former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda in a twitter message greeted the people and said 'Nuakhai' was a festival of new cultivation, new hopes & aspirations of the people in Odisha.

Globally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik erected a sand sculpture on Puri beach to wish people.

People across western Odisha celebrated the festival with religious fervour, devotion and enthusiasm today, a day after the Ganesha Chaturthi.

The festival began with offering 'Nabanna', the newly harvested paddy, to goddess Samaleswari Devi in Sambalpur.

A large number of devotees thronged the Samaleswari temple to witness the traditional ceremony and seek the blessings of the goddess, while cultural programmes were also organised in different areas on the festival, which symbolises harmony and brotherhood.

"The first rice was offered to Maa Samalai as per the time fixed by the pundits. Goddess Samaleswari was adorned with new Saree and ornaments," said Samaleswari temples priest, Ambika Prashad Ray.

Like Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur, the ritual was also performed before Patneswari in Bolangir, Sureswari in Sonepur, Sekharbasisni in Sunderagrh and Nrusinghanath of Paikmal, Ghateswari of Chipilima, Bhattarika of Brajarajnagar and all Gramdevi shrines of villages across the state.

People also celebrated the festival in their homes attired in new clothes, while the farmers worshiped the paddy fields.