NUANKHAI: NEW SARRIAN PADDY ON SALE IN BALANGIR
Monday, 05 September 2016 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
0
The newly sprouted paddy is on a hot sale across Balangir district headquarters town these days as Nuankhai draws near.
A major festival of western Odisha, Nuankhai symbolises the consumption of new paddy after offering it as bhog to the presiding deity at every household. The eating of newly sprouted paddy after offering to deity is known as ‘Nabarnna.’
Nuankhai is basically an agrarian festival. The farmers, who had sown paddy seed in the month of June, have already harvested the new crop. The paddy is offered to mother earth as a mark of gratitude.
A particular variety, ‘Sariaan’ which is a 75-day duration paddy crop grown on Att land, is offered as bhog. Almost 10 days prior to the festival, the people clean their houses. They purchase new items like new broom and other bamboo made baskets for use on the festival day.
Besides, all members put on new clothes and congregate at home. Even those who have to reside outside home for job return home for a family get-together. Several foods and sweetmeats are prepared.
After this, the Juhar Bhetghat (offering Namskar to seniors) is held which is a unique way to strengthen the brotherhood among all sections of people. As there are multiple caste systems, different caste people observe Nuankhai in different ways. But everyone stick to the basic character of the festival.
As an inflationary trend is on, the poor sections have to face a lot of hardship so far as the Nuankhai expenses are concerned. People would go for private borrowing and fall in the trap of the moneylenders.
Especially, the middlemen sending labourers to outside States to work in brick kilns would be active. They would give ‘bayana’ (advance money) to poor migrant labours for spending during the festival and later, would force them to migrate from home.
No comments:
Post a Comment