Nuakhai

Nuakhai, which translates to 'new food', is a major agricultural festival in Western Odisha. It is the equivalent of Baisakhi for Punjabis and is celebrated to welcome the new rice of the season. The festival is a time of thanksgiving to the deities and ancestors for the harvest and to pray for prosperity.

It is believed to have started in the 20th century under Maharaja Fatenarayan Deo and typically falls in August or September. Nuakhai is a festival that reinforces family and social bonds, with people returning to their native villages to celebrate with their families.