"Nuakhai Juhar"
This is a festival celebrated on next day of Ganesh Chaturthi, mostly in western districts of Odisha. They pray to Maa Samalei who is the mother goddess of Sambalpur.
When my father was posted at Sambalpur in year 2004-2005. I had been to this temple.
That day coincidentally was the day when Samalei takes "Dabalamukhi Besha". All year round her face is covered in red vermilion and only during Mahalaya she takes up this "Dabalamukhi besha".
My first visit to this shrine and it was over crowded. Long queues that went outside the main gate of the temple. After waiting for couple of hours we finally reached her and I saw this besha of Maa.
Today on this day people offer new rice to her and then they touch feets of elders in family. This is kind of reunion of families across western Odisha. Praying, feasting and enjoying with the larger family.
May maa Samalei bless all.
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