Nuakhai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nuakhai
The Nuakhai bhetgeet performed by artists on the occasion of Nuakhai Juhar in Sambalpur
Also called	Nabanna
Type	Regional Festival/Indian festival
Significance	Harvest festival
Observances	Western Odisha
Begins	Panchami tithi (fifth day) of lunar fortnight of Bhadrabaa
Date	August–September
Frequency	annual

Nuakhai is an important harvest festival. It is mostly celebrated by people in Western Odisha in India. This festival welcomes the new rice of the season. It happens on the fifth day (called panchami tithi) of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadrapada. This is usually in August or September, right after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Nuakhai is a very special social festival in Western Odisha and nearby areas like Simdega in Jharkhand.

About the Nuakhai Festival

Nuakhai is also known as Nuakhai Parab or Nuakhai Bhetghat. In Chhattisgarh, it's called Navakhai Parv. The word nua means new, and khai means food. So, the name means farmers are celebrating their newly harvested rice. This festival brings new hope, especially for farmers.

The festival is celebrated at a special time called lagan. People prepare a sweet dish called Aersaa Pithaa. When the lagan arrives, people first pray to their village god or goddess. After that, they eat the new rice.

Nuakhai is a big farming festival for people in Western Odisha. It is celebrated all over Odisha. But it is extra important in Western Odisha. It's a festival where people worship food grains. It is celebrated best in districts like Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Subarnapur, Boudh, and Nuapada district.

History of Nuakhai

Ancient Roots of the Festival

Some experts believe Nuakhai is very old. They think its ideas come from ancient Vedic times. Back then, wise people (called rishis) talked about five important farming activities. These included tilling the land, sowing seeds, cutting the first crops, harvesting grains, and storing food. Nuakhai seems to have come from the third activity. This is when people cut the first crop and offer it respectfully to the mother goddess.

How Nuakhai Became a Major Festival

The exact start of Nuakhai is not fully known. But stories say it began around the 14th century AD. This was during the time of the first Chauhan King Ramai Deva. He founded the Patna State, which is now part of Balangir district. King Ramai Deo wanted to build a strong kingdom. He realized that farming was key. Before him, people mostly hunted and gathered food. This way of life didn't create enough extra food to support a state. So, King Ramai Deo made Nuakhai a special festival. It helped people focus on farming. He made Nuakhai a symbol of the culture of Sambalpur.

Celebrating Nuakhai

When Nuakhai is Celebrated

In the past, there was no set date for Nuakhai. It was celebrated sometime during the bright half of the month of Bhadrava. This was when the new Kharif crop (autumn rice) started to ripen. The festival is held in Bhadrava even if the rice isn't fully ready. The idea is to offer the first grains to the gods before any birds or animals eat them.

In early times, village leaders and priests decided the day for Nuakhai. Later, royal families supported it. This made the simple festival a big event for everyone in the Kosal region (western Odisha).

Deities Honored During Nuakhai

Every year, Hindu priests use astrology to find the right day and time for Nuakhai. Priests in Sambalpur would meet at the Brahmapura Jagannath temple. They would calculate the exact time. In different areas, the festival time is set in the name of different goddesses. For example, Pataneswari Devi in Balangir, Sureswari Devi in Subarnapur, and Manikeswari Devi in Kalahandi.

In Sundargarh, the royal family first offers prayers to goddess Sekharbasini. Her temple is only open for Nuakhai. In Sambalpur, at the special moment, the head priest of Samaleswari Temple offers the new rice (nua-anna or nabanna) to goddess Samaleswari. She is the main goddess of Sambalpur.

Nine Steps of Nuakhai Rituals

People in Western Odisha start getting ready for Nuakhai 15 days before the festival. Nuakhai has nine main steps, or "colors," of rituals. These are done before the main celebration day:

• Beheren: This is when a meeting is announced to decide the festival date.
• Lagna dekha: This means finding the exact good time to eat the new rice.
• Daka haka: This is about inviting friends and family.
• Sapha sutura and lipa puchha: This means cleaning and tidying homes.
• Ghina bika: This is for buying new things for the festival.
• Nua dhan khuja: This is about looking for the new crop.
• Bali paka: This is the final decision for Nuakhai. People take the Prasad (offering) to the god or goddess.
• Nuakhai: This is the main day. People eat the new crop as Prasad after offering it to the god. Then there is dancing and singing.
• Juhar bhet: This is when people show respect to elders and exchange gifts.

Details of the Celebrations

Preparations start about 15 days before the festival. Village elders meet at a holy place after a trumpet call. They discuss the best day and time with priests. The priest checks the panjika (an astrology book). He then announces the special time (muhurta) to eat the new rice.

In the 1960s, there was an idea to set one common date for Nuakhai across Western Odisha. This didn't work at first. But in 1991, the idea was tried again. It was decided to celebrate Nuakhai on the fifth day of the bright half of Bhadrava. This worked, and since then, it's been a public holiday in Odisha. Even though there's a common date now, the special meaning of the rituals is still important. In cities, people might not follow all the old ways of setting the date.

Nuakhai is celebrated by the whole community and also in homes. First, rituals are done at the temple of the main god or goddess of the area. Then, people worship in their own homes. They offer prayers to their family gods and to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. People wear new clothes. It's a tradition that the oldest family member gives the new rice to everyone else. After eating the new rice, younger family members show respect to their elders.

Then comes nuakhai juhar. This is when people greet friends, relatives, and well-wishers. It shows unity. It's a time for people to forget their differences and start fresh. In the evening, people meet each other and exchange greetings. All old arguments are put aside. Elders bless younger people with long life, happiness, and good fortune. Even brothers who live separately celebrate together. In the evening, folk dances and songs are performed. This event is called "Nuakhai Bhetghat". People dance to traditional Sambalpuri dances like Rasarkeli, Dalkhai, Maelajada, Chutkuchuta, Sajani, Nachnia, and Bajnia.

Nuakhai Across India

Nuakhai is celebrated by many tribes in central and eastern India. They might call it by slightly different names. For example, some call it Jeth Nawakhai, Nawakhani, or Jom Nawa. In the coastal areas of Odisha, it's called Nabanna. No matter the name, the main goal is the same. It's to get social approval for the new crop. And to ask the gods to bless the land with lots of crops.

People from Western Odisha who live in other cities in India also celebrate Nuakhai. This includes cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Surat, and Visakhapatnam. They have been celebrating Nuakhai in their new homes for many years.

In 1991, different groups from Western Odisha, along with the government of Odisha, helped make Nuakhai a more unified festival. It might have changed a bit over time, but Nuakhai still shows the rich culture of Sambalpur.