Nuakhai
| Nuakhai | |
|---|---|
The Nuakhai bhetghat performed by artists on the occasion of Nuakhai Juhar in Sambalpur | |
| Also called | Nabanna |
| Type | Regional Festival/Indian festival |
| Significance | Harvest festival |
| Observances | Western Odisha |
| Begins | Panchami tithi (fifth day) of lunar fortnight of Bhadrabaa |
| Date | August–September |
| Frequency | annual |
Nuakhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha in India. Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. According to the calendar it is observed on panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhadraba (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha and Chhattishgarh also adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand, where the culture of Western Odisha is much predominant.