Sambalpur: New New paddy rice crop for Goddess Samleswari arrives, to be offered on “Nuakhai”

Sambalpur: Extensive preparations are underway in Western Odisha for Nuakhai. Preparations have also started for the New Year in the temple of East Devi Maa Samaleshwari in Sambalpur. First of all Maa Samleshwari is served with new rice, then other Devis are served and after that people eat Nabanna. New grain has arrived on Saturday to prepare new food for Mother Sameleshwari. Subas Behera, a farmer of Balbaspur, has delivered this grain to the house of Ambika Rai, the main worshiper of Samleshwari temple, like every other year. In order to feed Maa Samleshwari, saria paddy is cultivated in different parts of the district. Harvest in 60 days. The cultivation started from the end of the first month, but now it has reached the harvest time. After worshiping in the field and cutting some grain for Maa, Subas brought it to the temple worshiper Ambika. According to the rules of the temple, the main worshiper, Ambika, and the other worshipers’ families will make nabanna bhogs from new grains.

Nabanan bhog will be prepared by adding roasted jaggery, honey and pure ghee to this new grain rice. On the Nuakhai day of the pre-scheduled time, Ambika says that the said rice will be given to Maa Samleshwari. He informed that Ambika is supplied with new grains from subas while other worshipers receive it from different places. It is worth mentioning that next Thursday, September 1st, between 10:56 am and 11:00 am, Nabanna will be done at Maa Samleswari in Tula Lagna.