Nuakhai celebrated with pomp & gaiety

Sambalpur(By Abhishek Mohanty): Nuakhai, the agrarian festival of western Odisha, was celebrated with much pomp and gaiety on Thursday.
People offered the newly harvested rice to their respective presiding deities at a stipulated time.
While Goddess Samaleswari is being worshipped in Sambalpur, Pateneswari in Balangir, Sureswari in Sonepur, Sekharbasini in  Sundargarh and Manikeswari in Kalahandi are offered the new crop.
On this occasion, Nabanna (the first harvest of rice) was offered at the shrine of Maa Samaleswari.

As per the predetermined auspicious time, the Nabanna was offered.
Between the auspicious time of 10:33 AM to 10:55 AM, the Nabanna, brought from the home of Chief Priest Ambika Ray, was offered to the deity.