SAMBALPUR: People in large number thronged the temple of the presiding deity of Sambalpur Maa Samaleshwari to celebrate Nuakhai – the most important festival in western Odisha — on Friday.
People from other parts of the district and several neighbouring areas also offered puja in the temple seeking the blessings of the goddess and expressing gratitude for good harvest.
The first harvested crop was offered to the goddess at the stipulated lagna between 8:25am and 8:45am.
In their homes, people offered the first crop of the year to their household deity. As per the rituals, the head of the family worshipped the deity and offered rice prepared from the new crop along with other items.
People greeted each other with ‘Nuakhai Juhar.’
Nuakhai is the most important festival of western Odisha. It is similar to Bihu of Assam, Baisakhi of Punjab and Onam of the south India.
