Balangir : The spirit of festivity has begun to sweep across Western Odisha, as the region eagerly awaits its most revered community celebration — Nuakhai, the festival rooted in agriculture and tradition. With the festival fast approaching, a wave of excitement and cultural fervor has taken over the hearts of people across the region.
Adding to the momentum, the much-anticipated Nuakhai Lagna — the sacred moment to offer the season’s first harvest to the deities — has been officially announced in Balangir.
At the historic Sailashree Palace in Balangir today, the Royal Priest Santosh Das declared the auspicious date and time for the Nabanna ritual. The Lagna was finalized by the Council of Priests after carefully considering the astrological charts (rashi and nakshatra) of Goddess Pataneswari, Goddess Samaleswari, and the Patna Royal Family.
According to the religious calendar, the Nuakhai Nabanna offering will take place on 28th August, during the Shukla Paksha Panchami Tithi of the Bhadraba month, between 9:47 AM and 11:11 AM. This sacred window is when the first grains of the new harvest are ceremonially offered to the deities — a deeply symbolic and ancient tradition that marks the official beginning of Nuakhai celebrations.
The announcement of the Lagna has sparked jubilation across districts, with preparations gaining momentum. From urban centres to rural communities, the air is now charged with devotion, joy, and a shared sense of heritage.
Nuakhai is more than a festival — it is the living soul of Western Odisha, binding generations through faith, food, and festivity.
