Harvest of Happiness
“Anna bihune hansa hani, joga sadhibu kaha gheni” (One can’t live, develop, meditate or do yoga without food) goes a popular saying in Odisha. This underlies the spirit of Nuakhai, which celebrates a bountiful harvest by offering the first grains of ‘anna’ (rice) to the mother goddess in gratitude and then consumed by the devout.
The origin of Nuakhai can be traced back to the ingenious tribes of western Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Held on Bhadraba Sukla Panchami (5th day of the bright lunar half in August-September), it’s the most important festival in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts. Over time, this agricultural festival has soared in popularity and is now observed as a state holiday in Odisha with special cultural programs,community feasts and Nuakhai Bhetghat being organised to mark the occasion enthusiastically.
Different Names
As per etymology, Nuakhai is a combination of two words ‘nua’ (new) and ‘khai’ (food), thereby meaning that farmers are in possession of newly harvested rice.The festival is also popularly referred to as ‘Nabanna’ (new grains of rice) in Odisha, sharing some similarity with the harvest festivals of other states like ‘Bihu’ in Assam and ‘Onam’ in Kerala.
However, it is known by different names among the various tribes.The Oram and Koruwa communities call it ‘Nawakhani’ as do the Paraja tribe of Odisha and Bastar region in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. It is also known as ‘Jamanawa’ among the Munda tribe, ‘Janthar’ or ‘Nawai’ (Santhals), ‘Nawa’ (Barajias), ‘Nawajom’ (Birhar) and ‘Jheth Nawakhia’ (Khadias).
Time & Day
Like the different names, the ‘tithi’ (day)and ‘samaya’ (time) of the festival also varied in earlier times. Each clan, village and tribe used to decide their own auspicious occasion to offer the freshly harvested grains to their reigning deities. The village elders usually gathered in a temple and decided the most befitting occasion to make the offerings. While some used to follow the ‘Hindu Panchang’ (almanac), the date and time in other paces was decidedas per the chief deity or the birth charts of the tribal chieftain or ruler.
But now, Nuakhai is observed on the same day (Bhadraba Sukla Panchami) across the state, with community elders only deciding the auspicious time. As per tradition, the first offerings of new grains are made to Goddess Samaleswari, and later to other goddesses like Sureswari, Manikeswari, etc.
Nine Rituals
Nuakhai is understood to have nine colours (‘Nabaranga’) and therefore nine sets of rituals are observed as a prelude to the actual day of celebration.
The rituals comprising ‘Nabaranga’ are: ‘Beheran’(announcement of the meeting of village elders), ‘Lagan Dekha’(setting the date and time), ‘Daka Haka’(sending out invites), ‘Sapha Sutura’and ‘Lipa Pochha’(cleaning the home and agricultural tools), ‘Gnina Bika’(purchasing the required materials, new dresses, etc.), ‘Nua Dhan Khuja’(searching for new crop), ‘Bali Paka’ (offering the new crop to the deity), ‘Nuakhai’ (gathering of the family to enjoy the meal of new crop), and ‘Juhar Bhet’ (paying respect to elders and exchanging gifts).
Festivity & Feasts
Nuakhai is observed both at the domestic and community level with the custom of eating together being mandatory. The day begins with people dressed in new, colourful clothes visiting nearby templesfor the ‘Nabanna’ ceremony. The famous shrines of Samaleswari, Ghanteswari, Manikeswari and Sureswari see a surge of crowd for the special programs on this day, with the respective temple administrations going into overdrive to ensure smooth management.
After observing the rituals at the local temples, people offer dishes made of the new grain to Goddess Laxmi and their household deities. Then, the whole family gathers and sits facing east to feast on ‘Anna’, ‘Khiri’, and ‘Pitha’ along with various lentil soups, fries and gravy items.
Following the hearty meal, it’s customary for the eldest member of the family to give gifts of ‘nua’ (new) to the youngsters, who in turn seek his/her blessings. Known as ‘Nuakhai Juhar’, the post-meal ritual symbolises the very spirit of Nuakhai—respect to elders, affection towards the young, and sharing food by letting go of all differences or discords of the past.
After the exchange of greetings and gifts among friends, family and relatives during the day, people gather in the evening for the scheduled soirees of folk dances and songs. Traditional song and dance forms like ‘Dalkhai’, ‘Rashakeli’, ‘Bajania’, ‘Sajni’, and ‘Chutukuchuta’ among others ensure fever-pitch entertainment and revelry.
Basi Tihar
‘Basi Tihar’ is like ‘Chhadkhai’. It is observed a day after Nuakhai with delectable non-vegetarian dishes and locally brewed alcoholic drinks being the highlights of the day. Picnics are arranged and loud, entertaining music and dance bring the curtain down on the festivities, with the promise of more fanfare next time—“Jeen jagi thile porul saal fir bhet heba” (May we meet again, next year) goes the popular greeting on the occasion in western Odisha.