Nuakhai, the agrarian festival of western Odisha, was also celebrated outside the State in Bangalore with much zeal and zest last week, with the Juhar Parivar organising the Nuakhai Bhetghat at the HAl Kalyan Mandap in the Garden City. In Odisha, the festival was observed on August 30.
As per the tradition, the Bhetghat programme began after worshiping of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding goddess in Sambalpur. Several distinguished personalities from various fields were felicitated on the occasion. The personalities includes noted Mridanga player Jayaram Padhan, Guru Ranjan Kumar Sahoo and winner of the Voice of Odisha (junior) Sourav Sadangi.
Besides, several famous Sambalpuri songs and scintillating dance performances enthralled the audience creating a nostalgic sentiment among them.
later, the people witnessed a fashion show, where models wearing several Sambalpuri designer clothes walked on the ramp. The designs are made by youth and indigenous fashion designer Sujit Meher, an alumnus of the NIFT, Bangalore. Besides, a special stall installed by the Sambalpuri Bastralaya to promote the home-grown products lured many visitors at the event.