(From top) A farmer worships his paddy field during Nuakhai, a woman makes sweets to celebrate the harvest fest, people gather at Samaleswari temple to offer prayers to Goddess Samaleswari, a cultural event in progress. Telegraph pictures

Sambalpur/Balangir, Sept. 20: Nuakhai was celebrated with much fanfare in western Odisha today.

In Sambalpur, thousands of devotees thronged the temple of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of the town. People gathered to witness the first rice offering ceremony to the deity, which is a ritual of Nuakhai.

People also observed the harvest fest at home. The farmers offered the first crop of the year to the household deity with other food items. The head of the family then distributed the prasad among family members.

After a luncheon with family, the “Nuakhai Juhar” or the exchange of greetings with friends, relatives and well-wishers was observed.

“Being the youngest in the family, I touch the feet of all elder members as a mark of respect and seek blessings. It is a wonderful ritual,” said Sushant.

In the evening, “Nuakhai Bhet” — the cultural aspect of the festival — was organised at several places in Sambalpur such as Arnyak Manch, Samaleswari temple and Maneswar temple.

“The Nuakhai Bhet provides an opportunity to meet other people. After celebrating Nuakhai at their respective homes, people gather at one place. Several competitions and cultural programmes are organised during the evening,” said Bhagwat Prashad Nanda, a senior citizen of Sambalpur.

“Nuakhai is the most important festival for the people of western Odisha. I never miss it. All our family members assemble at one place on this occasion. The younger members of the family seek blessings from the elders. I have come here from Delhi to celebrate the festival with my family,” said Dev Priyadarsi, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Similar to Bihu in Assam, Baisakhi in Punjab and Onam in Kerala, Nuakhai is the harvest festival of Odisha. In western Odisha, the festival is not limited to any particular group, caste or creed. Everyone in the region celebrates it to promote harmony and cooperation.

The 12-hour Bharat bandh could not dampen the Nuakhai fervour of Balangir and Sonepur districts in western Odisha. Soumyamaya Mahapatra, who works in Hyderabad, reached Sonepur to observe Nuakhai with his family.

“Nuakhai gives an opportunity to meet people who you have not met since long,” he said.