Kalahandi, Sept. 7 (UDN): The traditional Navanna ritual at the Maa Manikeswari shrine in Kalahandi will be observed on September 22, with the first offering of the new harvest scheduled during the auspicious period from 8.20 am to 9.30 am.
According to the Kalahandi Rajbati, devotees and members of the public will be allowed to partake of the new rice offering from 10 am to noon on the day.
Navanna at the Maa Manikeswari shrine is deeply rooted in the region’s traditional customs. Unlike Nuakhai, which is observed on Panchami in western Odisha, the Navanna ritual at the shrine is performed on Dashami.
As part of the age-old practice, the first produce of the season is offered to Maa Manikeswari before the new rice is consumed by the people. The ritual holds particular religious and cultural importance in the erstwhile princely areas of Kalahandi.
The announcement comes shortly after the auspicious timing for the Nabanna offering at Maa Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur was declared. There, the new harvest will be offered to the presiding deity on September 15, marking the beginning of the Nuakhai celebrations.
The Navanna observance at Maa Manikeswari is expected to draw devotees and members of the local community, continuing a longstanding tradition of expressing gratitude for the season’s first harvest.