Sambalpur, Sept. 18: People in west Odisha today celebrated the agrarian festival Nuakhai with much fanfare.

A large number of devotees thronged the temple of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity in Sambalpur, to seek blessings of the goddess on the occasion.

The first harvested crop was offered to Goddess Samaleswari at the stipulated lagna (auspicious moment) between 8.20am to 8.45am.

"Goddess Samaleswari was also decked up for the occasion. She wore a new sari and ornaments," said Samaleswari temple's priest Ambika Prashad Ray.

Similarly, Goddess Patneswari in Balangir, Sureswari in Sonepur, Sekharbasisni in Sundargarh and Manikeswari in Kalahandi, were worshipped on the occasion of Nuakhai today.

The devotees also observed Nuakhai in their respective homes with new clothes and new foods, while the farmers worshiped the paddy fields. Womenfolk woke up early in the morning to perform the Nuakhai rituals that began with decorating the house. The later half of the day was spent in the kitchen preparing special delicacies.

During the festival, the head of the family worships the household deity and offers her the rice and other food items. He then distributes prashad among the family members. According to the age-old tradition, family members would sit and take their food together on this occasion.

Apart from the rituals of offering the new crop to the deity, the Nuakhai Juhar is a major ritual of the festival. At this time, people exchange greetings with friends, relatives and well-wishers. The elders are wished Nuakhai Juhar and they give blessings to the younger ones for long life, happiness and prosperity.

In the evening, various socio-cultural organisations organised Nuakhai Bhetghat at several places in Sambalpur to celebrate the occasion. A number of cultural programmes are also organised in the evening.

"People express their gratitude to the Almighty for the food grain on the occasion of Nuakhai. The festival is quite important for us," said a writer, Deepak Panda.

"The Nuakhai Bhetghat provides opportunity to meet with our own people. After celebrating the Nuakhai at their respective homes, the people gather at one place. Several competition and cultural programmes are also organised to observe Nuakhai Bhetghat," said Panda.

Earlier, Nuakhai used to be observed in various days in different places. Since 1992, the festival is being celebrated on the same day throughout the state.