Holiday Declared in Odisha for Nuakhai on August 29

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced a holiday on August 29 for the celebration of Nuakhai, the harvest festival widely observed across western Odisha. All government offices, along with revenue and magistrate (executive) courts, will remain closed on the day.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department issued the notification on Tuesday through Additional Secretary Diganta Routray. The order stated that the holiday will apply to all state government offices and courts in view of the festival.

To balance the working calendar, the government has also declared September 13, 2025 — the second Saturday of the month — as a working day.

Nuakhai, regarded as one of the most important agrarian festivals of Odisha, marks the offering of the season’s first harvest to deities and ancestors. The festival is celebrated with family gatherings, traditional rituals, and cultural programmes, symbolising prosperity and gratitude for a good harvest.