Narendra Modi wishes Odiya people a prosperous 'Nuakhai Juhar' on occasion of crop festival

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Governor SC Jamir, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and a host of dignitaries on Saturday greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of Nuakhai, a festival welcoming the new crop.

“Nuakhai Juhar! Good wishes to Odia friends on the festival of Nuakhai. May this festival bring happiness and prosperity in everyone’s lives,” Modi said in a Twitter post.

Nuakhai Juhar! Good wishes to Odia friends on the festival of Nuakhai. May this festival bring happiness and prosperity in everyone’s lives.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2017

While Governor SC Jamir greeted the people on the occasion in a message and wished them happiness and prosperity, the chief minister extended wishes to the people by tweeting in Sambalpuri.

ନୂଆ ଧାନ୍ ସାଙ୍ଗେ ନୂଆ ଆଶା, ଉସତ୍ ଆର୍ ଭାଇଚାରାରେ ପାଲନ୍ କରୁନ୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ। ଇ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର୍ ନୂଆଁଖାଇ ଜୁହାର୍। pic.twitter.com/TOLrWx1rk1

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 26, 2017

BJP president Amit Shah and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi too greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion.

“Greetings to our brothers and sisters of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai. May Maa Samaleswari bless us with peace & prosperity,” Shah tweeted.

Greetings to our brothers & sisters of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai. May Maa Samaleswari bless us with peace & prosperity.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 26, 2017

Greetings to all brothers and sisters from Odisha on the occasion of Nuakhai #NuakhaiJuhar

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 26, 2017

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan too wished the people and prayed for peace and prosperity.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan was among those who greeted people on the occasion and prayed for peace, harmony and prosperity.

Globally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik erected a sand sculpture on Puri beach to wish people.

#NuakhaiJuhar
May Maa Samaleswari bless all for peace and prosperity. My SandArt at Puri beach in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/phsDSGIX7S

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) August 26, 2017

People across western Odisha celebrated the festival with religious fervor, devotion and enthusiasm on Saturday, a day after the Ganesha Chaturthi.

The festival began with offering Nabanna, the newly harvested paddy, to Goddesses Samaleswari Devi in Sambalpur. Later, the people offered Nabanna to their presiding deities.

A large number of devotees thronged the Samaleswari temple to witness the traditional ceremony and seek the blessings of the Goddess, while cultural programmes were also organised in different areas of the festival, which symbolises harmony and brotherhood.

A large number of devotees thronged the Samaleswari temple to witness the traditional ceremony and seek the blessings of the Goddess, while cultural programmes were also organised in different areas on the festival, which symbolises harmony and brotherhood.