Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s agrarian festival Nuakhai was celebrated in Kuwait with a meet-and-greet and Nabanna feast organised by Kuwait Odisha Association on Indian Embassy premises recently.The celebration began with invocation of Maa Samaleswari, followed by rituals, devotional songs and offering of the season’s first Nabanna and prasad. Odia families from across Kuwait exchanged “Nuakhai Juhar” and sought blessings from elders.India’s ambassador to Kuwait, Paromita Tripathi, inaugurated the event and lauded the association’s initiative. The programme featured classical Odissi dance, tribal and Sambalpuri dances, along with kirtan, and was attended by around 300 people.Messages received from President Droupadi Murmu, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief minister K V Singhdeo, Padma Shri award winner Haldhar Nag and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey were conveyed to the audience.Manas Raj Patel from Sundargarh district, who serves as first secretary at Indian Embassy in Kuwait, also attended the gathering. Association president Asimananda Mund thanked central and state govts, Indian Embassy, association members and their families, and conveyed Nuakhai greetings.
