Orissa celebrated Nuakhai "Harvest" Festival

Millions of people in the state celebrated "Nuakhai" or the "Harvest Festival" with a lot of spirit and enthusiasm. People offered the first crop of the season to their deities and visited each other's place to spread the message of goodwill and brotherhood. Nuakhai is normally celebrated in Western Orissa. However, with the changing times, other parts of the state have also adopted this festival.

The aim of the festival is to express man's gratitude to nature and reverence to god for supply of food. The main districts that celebrate Nuakhai are Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Jharsuguda, Nuapara, Deogarh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Phulbani, Rayagada, and Malkanagiri. The CM and the Governor were among many prominent persons who greeted people on this occasion.