NUAKHAI part-2 The significance of this festival lies more in its socio-cultural content rather than its religious or ritualistic aspect. NUAKHAI is nearly akin to the Onam Festival of Kerala or the Bhogali Bihu of Assam. Related to the agrarian life and activities of the people of more than ten districts of Western Orissa, NUAKHAI is a prayer for plenty and prosperity, a way of thanksgiving toMother Earth and the ever benign and bountiful nature. In the olden days, this festival was being observed at the behest of the feudal lords in the princely states ofOrissa like Sambalpur, Bolangir, Gangpur, Bonai, Bamanda, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Boudh, Attmallik and other smaller tributaries and zamindaries. In eachof these states, the ruling houses had their presiding deities. Samaleswari in Sambalpur, Pataneswari in Bolangir, Manikswariin Kalahandi. NUAKHAI in each of these states was being observed according to the “State Almanac”. There was no common day for this culturally contiguous vast area in Western Orissa. But for over a decade now, to bring about uniformity, by common consensus of the people, a predetermined day has been identified for NUAKHAI and that is the day after Sri Ganesh Chaturthi, the fifth lunar day duringthe bright fortnight of Bhadrav. This unanimity of a common day has helped people away from home to visit their native places. A single day has been declared as holiday bythe State Government of Orissa in the entire state of facilitate grand celebrations.
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 04:05:27 +0000
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