Odisha Govt declares holiday on August 29 for Nuakhai festival, second saturday to be a working day

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26: The Odisha government on Tuesday announced a public holiday on August 29, 2025 (Friday) for the celebration of Nuakhai, one of the most significant agrarian festivals of western Odisha. The holiday will apply to all government offices, revenue offices, and magisterial (executive) courts across the state.

The official notification was issued by Diganta Routray, Additional Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, highlighting the government’s recognition of the festival’s cultural importance. Nuakhai, celebrated a day after Ganesh Chaturthi, marks the consumption of the season’s new rice (Nabanna) and is observed with prayers to the presiding deities, family gatherings, and community feasts. It symbolizes prosperity, gratitude to nature, and social unity.

To maintain balance in the state’s official working calendar, the government has also declared September 13, 2025 (second Saturday) as a working day. This adjustment ensures smooth functioning of administrative activities while granting citizens a festive break.

The announcement has been welcomed widely, particularly in the western districts of Odisha such as Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, and Kalahandi, where Nuakhai is celebrated with grandeur and deep emotional significance.