Festival in India
Nuakhai
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Artists_Performing_%27Bhaijiuntia%27-_Dalkhai_in_the_NUAKHAI_BHETGHAT_occasion_at_Burla.jpg/240px-Artists_Performing_%27Bhaijiuntia%27-_Dalkhai_in_the_NUAKHAI_BHETGHAT_occasion_at_Burla.jpg) The
Nuakhai bhetgeet
performed by artists on the occasion of
Nuakhai Juhar
in Sambalpur
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Also called
| Nabanna
[1]
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Type
| Regional Festival/
Indian festival
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Significance
| Harvest festival
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Observances
| Western Odisha
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Begins
| Panchami tithi (fifth day) of lunar fortnight of Bhadrabaa
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Date
| August?September
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Frequency
| annual
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Nuakhai
is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of
Western Odisha
in
India
.
[1]
[5]
Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. According to the calendar it is observed on
panchami tithi
(the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of
Bhadrapada
or
Bhadraba
(August?September), the day after the
Ganesh Chaturthi
festival. This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha and adjoining areas of
Simdega
in Jharkhand, where the culture of
Western Odisha
is much predominant.
About the festival
[
edit
]
Nuakhai is also called
Nuakhai Parab
or
Nuakhai Bhetghat
. It is also known as
Navakhai Parv
in Chhattisgarh. The word
nua
means new and
khai
means food, so the name means the farmers are in possession of the newly harvested rice. The festival is seen as a new ray of hope, held the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It has a big significance for farmers and the agricultural community. The festival celebrated at a particular time of day which is called
lagan
.
Aersaa Pithaa
is prepared to celebrate this festival. When the
lagan
comes, the people first remember their village god or goddess and then have their
khai
.
[6]
[7]
Nuakhai is the agricultural festival of people of Western odisha. The festival is observed throughout
Odisha
, but it is particularly important in the life and culture of
Western Odisha
. It is a festival for the worship of food grain. It has its best celebration in the
Kalahandi
,
Sambalpur
,
Balangir
,
Bargarh
,
Sundergarh
,
Jharsuguda
,
Subarnapur
,
Boudh
and
Nuapada districts
of Odisha.
[8]
Ancient origin
[
edit
]
According to local researchers Nuakhai is of fairly ancient origin. Some researchers found the fundamental idea of the celebration can be traced back at least to
Vedic
times when the
rishis
(sages) had talked of
panchayajna
, the five important activities in the annual calendar of an agrarian society.
[9]
These five activities have been specified as
sitayajna
(the tilling of the land),
pravapana yajna
(the sowing of seeds),
pralambana yajna
(the initial cutting of crops),
khala yajna
(the harvesting of grains) and
prayayana yajna
(the preservation of the produce). In view of this, Nuakhai may be seen as having evolved out of the third activity, namely
pralambana yajna
, which involves cutting the first crop and reverently offering it to the mother goddess.
[10]
Origin of the current form
[
edit
]
Although the origin of the festival has been lost over time, oral tradition dates its back to the 14th century AD, the time of the first
Chauhan
King
Ramai Deva
, founder of the
Patna State
[
citation needed
]
which is currently part of
Balangir district
in Western Odisha. In his efforts to build an independent kingdom, Raja Ramai Deo realized the significance of settled agriculture because the subsistence economy of the people in the area was primarily based on hunting and food gathering. He realised this form of economy could not generate the surpluses required to maintain and sustain a state. During state formation in the Sambalpuri region, Nuakhai as a ritual festival played a major role in promoting agriculture as a way of life. Thus credit can be given to Raja Ramai Deo for making Nuakhai a symbol of Sambalpuri culture and heritage.
[6]
Journey from past to present
[
edit
]
In the early years, there was no fixed day for celebration of the festival. It was held sometime during
Bhadraba Sukla Pakhya
(the bright fortnight of Bhadraba). It was the time when the newly grown
Kharif crop
(autumn crop) of rice started ripening. There are reasons for observing the festival in the month of Bhadrava even though the food grain is not ready for harvesting. The thought is to present the grain to the presiding deity before any bird or animal pecks at it and before it is ready for eating.
[
citation needed
]
In early traditions, farmers would celebrate Nuakhai on a day designated by the village headman and priest. Afterward, under the patronage of royal families, this simple festival was altered into a mass socio-religious event celebrated in the entire Kosal region (western Odisha region).
[
citation needed
]
Deities that are offered Nua
[
edit
]
Every year, the
tithi
(day) and
samaya
(time) of observance was astrologically determined by the Hindu priests. Priests sat together at the
Brahmapura
Jagannath
temple in
Sambalpur
and calculated the day and time. The
tithi
(date) and
lagna
(auspicious moment) were calculated in the name of Pataneswari
Devi
in the Balangir-
Patnagarh
area, in the name of Sureswari Devi in the Subarnapur area, and in the name of Manikeswari Devi in the Kalahandi area. In Sundargarh,
Puja
(worship) was first offered by the royal family to the goddess Sekharbasini in the temple which is opened only for Nuakhai. In Sambalpur, at the stipulated
lagna
(auspicious moment), the head priest of
Samaleswari Temple
offers the
nua-anna
or
nabanna
to the goddess
Samaleswari
, the presiding deity of
Sambalpur
.
[
citation needed
]
Rituals of the nine colors of Nuakhai
[
edit
]
People in the Western Odisha region initiate preparations for the event 15 days in advance. Nuakhai is understood to have nine colours and as a consequence, nine sets of rituals are followed as a prelude to the actual day of celebration. These nine colours include:
[
citation needed
]
- Beheren
(announcement of a meeting to set the date)
- Lagna dekha
(setting the exact date for partaking of new rice)
- Daka haka
(invitation)
- Sapha sutura
and
lipa puchha
(cleanliness)
- Ghina bika
(purchasing)
- Nua dhan khuja
(looking for the new crop)
- Bali paka
(final resolve for Nuakhai by taking the
Prasad
(the offering) to the deity)
- Nuakhai
(eating the new crop as
Prasad
after offering it to the deity, followed by dancing and singing)
- Juhar bhet
(respect to elders & gift transfers)
Details of the rituals of Nuakhai
[
edit
]
The preparations begin some 15 days prior to the date of the festival, when the elderly persons of the village sit together at a holy place after the
beheren
calls the villagers by blowing a trumpet. Then people get together and discuss with the priests the
tithi
and
lagna
(auspicious day and time) for Nuakhai. The priest consults the
panjika
(astrological almanac) and announces the sacred
muhurta
(a period of time equal to about 48 minutes) when nua is to be taken.
There was an attempt made during the 1960s to set a common
tithi
for the Nuakhai festival all over the western
Odisha
. It was decided this was not a workable idea. The idea was reintroduced in 1991 to set the Bhadraba Sukla Panchami tithi for the Nuakhai festival. This became successful and since then, the festival has been celebrated on that day, and the
Odisha
State Government has declared it an official holiday. Although for the sake of convenience a common auspicious day is set for Nuakhai, the sanctity of the ritual has not lost its importance. Today, however, the system of setting the
tithi
and
lagna
and calling elderly persons for a consensus does not happen in urban areas.
[
citation needed
]
Nuakhai is celebrated both at the community and domestic level. The rituals are first observed at the temple of the reigning deity of the area or to the village deity. Afterward, the people worship in their respective homes and offer rituals to their domestic deity and to
Lakshmi
, the deity of wealth in the Hindu tradition. People wear new clothes for the occasion. It is a tradition that after offering the nua to the presiding deity, the eldest member of the family distributes nua to other members of the family. After taking the nua, all the junior members of the family offer their regards to their elders.
[11]
Thereafter follows the
nuakhai juhar
, which is the exchange of greetings with friends, well-wishers, and relatives. This symbolizes unity. This is an occasion for people to lay their differences to rest and start relationships afresh. Towards the evening people meet one another, exchanging greetings. All differences are discarded and elders are wished
nuakhai juhar
. The elders bless their juniors and wish them long life, happiness, and prosperity. Even the partitioned brothers celebrate the festival under one roof. In the evening, folk dances and songs are organized called "
Nuakhai Bhetghat
". People dance to the foot tapping traditional Sambalpuri dance forms like
Rasarkeli
,
Dalkhai
, Maelajada,
Chutkuchuta
,
Sajani
,
Nachnia
, and
Bajnia
.
[12]
Other Indian tribes celebrating Nuakhai
[
edit
]
According to Singh, evidence can be found of the Nuakhai festival been observed by nearly all the major tribes in central and eastern India, with a minor difference in nomenclature.
[13]
Jeth Nawakhai
is celebrated among the Dudh Kharia and Pahari Kharia,
Nawakhani
amongst the
Oraon
and Birjia,
Jom Nawa
among the Munda and Birjia,
Janther
or
Baihar-Horo Nawai
by the Santal,
Gondli Nawakhani
by the tribal people of Ranchi district,
Nawa
by the Birjia,
Nawa-Jom
by the Birhor,
Dhan Nawakhani
by Korwa, and so on. Russel and Hiralal
[14]
have mentioned the
Nawakhani
festival of the Paraja, a small tribe found in the Bastar region and
Odisha
. Gautam (1977)
[15]
observed a new corn offering and rice eating festival of the Santals in Santal Pargana which they term
Jom Nawa
. Das Gupta (1978)
[16]
has noted the
Nawa
ceremony of the Birjia, a section of the Asura tribe of Chhotanagpur. Bhaduri (1944:149-50)
[17]
presents a short note on the celebration of a festival of the Tripura known as
Mikatal
where
Mi
stands for rice and
Katal
means new. It is celebrated in the month of Aswina (September?October).In the coastal districts of Odisha, the festival is called
Nabanna
. Regardless of the name, the main objective of this festival is to get social sanction for the new crop, and to invoke the deities to bless the land with abundant crops.
[
citation needed
]
Nuakhai celebrated throughout India
[
edit
]
Nuakhai is a cohesive and unified force between people of the
Western Odisha
living in
Delhi
, as they unite and celebrate together the occasion of Nuakhai. People from the
Odisha
now living in
Rajasthan
Bangalore
,
Bhopal
,
Chennai
,
Hyderabad
,
Kolkata
,
Mumbai
,
Surat
and
Visakhapatnam
have been celebrating Nuakhai in their new cities for the past few decades. The modern Nuakhai festival, now being observed on the fifth day of the second fortnight of Bhadrava, was unquestionably given a new look of homogeneity and uniformity by various social organizations of
Western Odisha
, including the
government of Odisha
in 1991. It has lost some of its enormity and variety with the passage of time, but Nuakhai is still an occasion which endorses the patrimonial nature of the Sambalpuri culture and society.
[
citation needed
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Agrarian Festival 'Nuakhai' Celebrated With Enthusiasm And Unique Traditions in Odisha"
. News18. 2 September 2022.
- ^
"Nuakhai ahead, peasants work overtime"
.
newindianexpress.com
. 2012. Archived from
the original
on 21 January 2016
. Retrieved
16 September
2012
.
This year, Nuakhai falls on September 20
- ^
"Notification"
(PDF)
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 7 October 2013
. Retrieved
25 September
2023
.
- ^
"People celebrate 'Nuakhai' festival in Odisha"
. 30 August 2014
. Retrieved
20 November
2020
.
- ^
Major Festival of western Odisha: Nuakhai
- ^
a
b
"Nuakhai: The greatest harvesting festival of Odisha"
.
Times of India Blog
. 3 September 2019
. Retrieved
23 August
2020
.
- ^
"Nuakhai Festival 2020: Date, Meaning, Celebration, Holy Scriptures"
.
S A News
. 23 August 2020
. Retrieved
23 August
2020
.
- ^
"On Nuakhai Juhar, Odisha's Harvest Festival, PM Modi's Tweet For Farmers"
.
NDTV.com
. Retrieved
23 August
2020
.
- ^
Pasayat, C.S. (1991),
Rural-Urban Continuum and Folk Culture: An Examination of Persistence and Change in Sambalpur
. Ph.D. Thesis, CSSS/SSS, JNU, New Delhi.
- ^
"Odisha is celebrating the festival of Nuakhai today, but do you know why?"
.
India Today
. 6 September 2016
. Retrieved
23 August
2020
.
- ^
"Nuakhai Festival-Juhar,lagan,ritual"
.
- ^
Pradhan, Ashok (1 September 2011).
"Rain uplifts spirits on Nuakhai eve"
.
The Times of India
. Archived from
the original
on 3 January 2013
. Retrieved
16 September
2012
.
folk dances of dalkhei and rasar keli are the main highlights of the occasion.
- ^
Singh, A.K. (1982).
Tribal Festivals of Bihar: A Functional Analysis.
New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company
- ^
Russel, R.V. and Hiralal (1975),
"Oraon" in The Tribes and Castes of the Central Province of India.
Vol. IV. Delhi: Cosmo Publications.
- ^
Gautam, M.K. (1977).
In Search of an Identity: A Case Study of the Santal of Northern India
. The Hague: Leiden.
- ^
Das Gupta, S.B. (1978).
Birjhia: A Section of the Asura of Chota Nagpur.
Calcutta: K.P.Bagchi & Co.
- ^
Bhaduri, M.B. (1944). "Some Munda Religious Ceremonies and Their System of Reckoning Time."
Man in India
, Vol.24, pp.148-153.
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