Nawakhani facts for kids

Nawakhani is a special harvest festival celebrated in parts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. It's a time when people celebrate eating the first new rice grains after they have been harvested from the fields.

What Does Nawakhani Mean?

The name Nawakhani is quite simple! It means "eating new." The word Nawa means "new," and Khani means "eat." So, the festival is all about enjoying the fresh, new grains after a successful harvest.

How Nawakhani is Celebrated

This exciting harvest festival takes place in the Chota Nagpur plateau region, which covers parts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. It's a day filled with gratitude and family togetherness.

• People often fast before the main celebrations.
• They show respect to the Sun god, called Suraj, and to their ancestors.
• New grains are offered as a sign of thanks.
• The main celebration usually happens in the family's courtyard.
• The head of the family prepares a special meal, often including chicken, for the Sun and ancestors.
• This cooked meal is then shared among all family members.
• During Nawakhani, families also make special foods like bread and Chuda (flattened rice) using the new rice. This rice is grown in plain fields and is sometimes called Godda dhan.

The festival is a way to celebrate the joy of eating the fresh, new grains after they have been gathered from the fields. It is celebrated by groups like the Sadan people of Jharkhand and the Kurukh people.

Similar Festivals in Other Parts of India

Nawakhani is not the only festival that celebrates new harvests in India! Other regions have their own versions:

• In Western Odisha, this festival is known as Nuakhai.
• In Madhya Pradesh, a similar festival called Nawai is celebrated by the Bhils community.
• In West Bengal, the new grain eating festival is known as Nabanna.

These festivals all share the common theme of celebrating the bounty of the harvest and giving thanks for new crops.