Bhubaneswar, 15 September (H.S.): Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan celebrated the sacred Nuakhai festival by having Navanna at the residence of district BJP president Ramachandra Meher in Sambalpur on Tuesday.

Pradhan joined members of the Meher family for the traditional Navanna meal and expressed his gratitude for their warmth and hospitality. He said Nuakhai is a unique festival that embodies Odisha’s culture, unity, harmony and respect for elders. Coming together and sharing the season’s first rice is one of the defining traditions of the festival, he added.

Pradhan extended his Nuakhai greetings to the people and prayed to Maa Samaleswari for their happiness, peace and prosperity.

Earlier, Pradhan visited the Maa Samaleswari Temple, the presiding shrine of Sambalpur, and offered prayers on the auspicious occasion. He prayed that the festival of Nuakhai would bring happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda