Nuakhai: Women served food first at Jhurimal

The village of Jhurimal in Sund-argarh district has once again stood as a symbol of community spirit by celebrating the agrarian festival ‘Nuakhai’ in a unique and collective manner. Here, women are served food first.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

Unlike the traditional practice of confining the celebration to individual households, the villagers of Jhurimal have been observing Nuakhai together as one large family for the past 13 years. This year, 163 households participated in the celebration, which drew hundreds of villagers and guests from nearby areas.

Nuakhai, the most significant festival of Western Odis-ha, marks the offering of the season’s first harvest to deities and ancestors. While it has always been an occasion of gratitude and festivity, Jhurimal has given ita new dimension by turning it into a collective celebration, thereby reinforcing the values of unity, compassion, and togetherness. The villagers prepared food ina single pot, shared the harvest as one community, and came together in prayer, festivity, and cultural expression.