Nuakhai 2026 Festival in Sambalpur: Maa Samaleswari Nabanna Timing Released

Sambalpur, Odisha, is preparing for the annual Nuakhai harvest festival, scheduled for 2026. The celebration marks the first grains of the new harvest and is a major cultural event in western Odisha.
Local authorities and temple committees have released the official timing for the Maa Samaleswari Nabanna ceremony, the central ritual where the deity is offered the first produce. The announcement details the start hour for the puja and the sequence of related cultural programs.
Organisers expect large gatherings of devotees and community members, who will partake in traditional dances, folk music, and communal feasting following the Nabanna rites. The timing release aims to facilitate orderly participation and ensure smooth conduct of the festivities.
The Nuakhai festival, rooted in agrarian traditions, continues to reinforce regional identity and gratitude towards the goddess Samaleswari for a bountiful harvest.
Authorities have urged citizens to observe traffic guidelines and maintain public hygiene during the celebrations.