Sambalpur, August 23: The most popular agricultural festival of western Odisha Nuakhai Parab or Nuakhai Bhetghat is being celebrated in a low-key manner this year due to Covid-19.
On this day, people worship their household deities as a mark of gratitude for bumper crops, good rain and favourable weather for farming activities and prepare special meals
Folk songs and dances are organized to display the local culture and tradition. However, this year, people are celebrating the festival while staying indoors due to Covid-19 outbreak.
There are restrictions on Nuakhai Bhetghat and community puja too to maintain social distancing. Nuakhai Bhetghat is a traditional social gathering organised by local people to greet each other.
According to tradition, on Nuakhai, the head of the family worships the household deity and offer the first grains of the harvest to the deity and then partake it.
The people who work outside visit their homes to celebrate the festival with family members.