Happy Nuakhai: Quotes, Wishes, Messages, Images, Date, and More

Every part of India celebrates many festivals, and different states are known for different festivals, highlighting their uniqueness and significance. It celebrates the diversity and the rich culture of our country.

What is Nuakhai?

Nuakhai is a popular festival celebrated in the Western part of Odisha. It is basically an agricultural festival for celebrating the season of rice. It is the most important festival for the people living in the Western part of Odisha and surrounding areas like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. It is known as Navakhai Parv in Chhattisgarh. The word Nua means New, and Khai means Food, which symbolizes the farmers' possession and availability of new rice. It is a day when one can witness the cultural significance and uniqueness of the land to the greatest extent. 

History of Nuakhai

Nuakhai has an ancient origin and is being celebrated since the Vedic period. The Rishis or sages used to perform the Panchayajna. One of them was called the Pralambana Yajna, which included offering the new harvest to the Mother Goddess. The first crops harvested were offered o the Goddess with great devotion before birds, or other animals could eat it. This practice is followed in the Nuakhai Festival.

Then in the 12th Century A.D, this festival was celebrated by Chauvan Raja Ramai Deo in Patnagarh, which is presently Bolangir district in Odisha. The king understood the importance of agriculture and its role in the economic progress and development of the kingdom. Thus, this festival improved agriculture in Western Odisha. The Royal priest used to set a date for the Nuakhai festival, which then grew into a socio-religious event under the royal family's influence. 

It evolved into an agricultural festival, and the tribal people settled in the Western part of Odisha celebrated it.

Nuakhai 2023 Date

• When is Nuakhai 2023?

Nuakhai for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Tuesday, 19 September.

• Nuakhai dates for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026

When Is Nuakhai Celebrated?

It is celebrated on the fifth day of the lunar fortnight, in the month of Bhadraba (from August to September). Nuakhai will be celebrated on 1st September 2022. 

Nuakhai Quotes, Wishes and Messages

• Nuakhair Tihar Anichhe, Nua Sapan Nua Asha…, Hasi Kheli Kari Btu E Bachhar, Maa Samlei Varsa… Nuakhai Juhar 
• Nua Dhan K Nua Man, Bane Bane Thaun Apan, Nuakhair Badkha Tihar, Sabku Mor Nuakhai Juhar

Significance of Nuakhai

Nuakhai festival gives a great message to modern-day society. It reminds us about the importance and significance of agriculture in our country and how it helps in the country's economic development. It also celebrates the farmers who work day and night to get a good harvest. India is basically an agricultural country, which is why this festival is of great significance. The mountainous regions of Western Odisha had mostly tribal people living there, who mostly depended on hunting as means of livelihood. After they adopted a little more civilized way of living through farming, this festival became a way of celebrating agriculture and farming. Since rice is the staple food in Odisha, the festival sustains the hope and faith of its inhabitants and brings great joy to their lives. It is a great time for the farmers as well because they finally get to enjoy the fruits of labour. It is a festival of brotherhood and unity. People forget their differences and celebrate this festival together.

Nuakhai: Ways of Celebration

Naukhai is celebrated after the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. A meeting is organized to fix the date of harvesting rice, invitation, cleaning the house, purchasing commodities, offering the crops to God, making the Prasad, and organizing the cultural programs. People also participate in community functions, known as "Naukhai Bhetgat" and perform traditional Sambalpuri dance forms Sajani, Rasarkeli, etc. Several traditional delicacies like kakra, manda, chakli, kheeri etc. are also made on the occasion. The Prasad is called Navanna, and is made from a new crop. The two most famous delicacies- pitha and Mitha are prepared. Non-vegetarian dishes like mutton curry are cooked and is eaten with rice. 

In Sundergarh, the royal family worshipped Goddess Shekharbasini, and the temple is opened exclusively for this occasion. Celebrations can also be seen in parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where the culture of Odisha is predominant. 

There are basically nine rituals:

• Beheren (announcement of the meeting)
• Lagna Dekha (Selecting the perfect date)
• Daka Haka (inviting people)
• Sapha Satura and Lipa Puchha (cleaning the house)
• Ghina Bika (Buying and purchasing)
• Nua Dhan Khuja (selecting the new crop)
• Bali paka (offering the prasad to the deity)
• Nuakhai (consuming the new crop as the prasad)
• Juhar Bhet (seeking blessings from elders and receiving gifts)

Nuakhai Celebrations around the World

• London

Odias, who live in London celebrate this festival traditionally by wearing Sambalpuri fabric and preparing several delicacies. 

• Dubai

Nuakhai is also celebrated in Dubai by the Odia diaspora. It is celebrated in the same manner as it is done in India. 

Nuakhai Celebration in the country

• Odisha

Approximately ten crore people from ten districts in Odisha celebrate the festival. It is celebrated with all the family members. People worship the Goddess as a gesture of gratitude for bumper crops, perfect weather and overall welfare. People put aside all their work, hardships or differences and come together to celebrate this festival with great fun and enthusiasm. On this auspicious day, several rituals are performed in Maa Samaleshwari Temple in Sambalpur. After worshipping, Navanna is offered to the people. Every person wakes up early, wears new clothes and seek blessing from the elders. Children touch the feet of elders, and this is also known as 'Nuakhai Juhar'

Some of the main spots for celebration are:

1. Maa Manikeshwari Temple- This temple in Kalahandi has a lot of visitors after the rituals of the Nuakhai festival.
2. Kosaleshari Temple- Maa Kosaleshwari is worshipped with great devotion and dedication. The goddess is a part of the Shakta cult and has a lot of devotees coming to her in this temple in Titlagarh. 
3. Samashwari Temple- This temple is famous for the Nabanna Lagi ritual of Nuakhai.
4. Sureshwari Temple- Located in the Sabarnapur district, it is the abode of the goddess, Maa Sursuri. Nuakhai is offered to the goddess.
5. Pataneswari Temple- This temple is the abode of the goddess Pataneswari, the deity who king Ramai Dev's Prime Minister worshipped. 

Several organizations have taken the initiative to celebrate Nuakhai in other parts of India, apart from Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Places like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Bhubaneshwar also celebrate Nuakhai with great fun and zest. It is also celebrated globally in places like Dubai and London. 

Interesting Facts About Nuakhai

• Nuakhai is a festival celebrated out of gratitude and thankfulness.
• The cultivation of rice begins in May, and the harvesting is done on Nuakhai.
• The first crops that are harvested are offered to the local deity.
• The Sariaan variety of the crop is offered to the goddess. 
• It is celebrated in Odisha in a grand manner, and the priests fix the date or the lagan. 
• People in Odisha begin the preparations for the festival fifteen days in advance.
• Nuakhai is believed to consist of nine colours which is why there are nine customs followed in the festival.
• People send a pot or a Bhar containing rice and vegetables to their family and friends in rural areas.
• The Juhar Bheta encourages brotherhood and unity.

Nuakhai is a festival that encourages love, friendship and brotherhood irrespective of any caste and religion. It also reminds us to appreciate the efforts of the farmers who shed their blood, sweat and tears to bring us good food every day.