Sambalpur, Odisha : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan celebrated the annual agrarian festival ‘Nuakhai’ in Sambalpur this year. He joined the traditional festivities at the residence of Shyamsundar Pati in Sindurapank, where he observed rituals with the host family and shared the ceremonial ‘Nabanna bhojan’ (first harvest meal).
Expressing gratitude to the hosts for their hospitality, Pradhan said that Nuakhai is not just a festival but an emotion that unites families and communities. “The essence of Nuakhai lies in coming together and sharing the first grain of the harvest,” he remarked.
On this occasion, the Union Minister extended warm greetings to the people of Odisha. Taking to his official X handle (formerly Twitter), he wrote in Sambalpuri dialect:
ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍ 🙏
ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ସିନ୍ଦୁରପଙ୍କ ଠାରେ ଶ୍ୟାମସୁନ୍ଦର ପତିଙ୍କ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ସହ ‘ନବାନ୍ନ’ ଖାଇ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ପାଳନ କରିବାର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ଲାଭ କଲି । ନୂଆଁଖାଇ କେବଳ ଏକ ପର୍ବ ନୁହେଁ ବରଂ ଏକ ଭାବାବେଗ । ଏହି ଦିନ ଏକାଠି ହେବା ଓ ସାଥୀ ହୋଇ ନବାନ୍ନ ଖାଇବା ଏହି ପର୍ବର ବିଶେଷତା । pic.twitter.com/w0tYQmBJAy
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 28, 2025
Nuakhai, widely celebrated across western Odisha, is considered the biggest harvest festival of the region, highlighting the bond between farmers, agriculture, and cultural traditions.
Also Read : https://orissamirror.com/nuakhai-nabanna-festival-begins-at-maa-samaleswari-temple/
