Misplaced Pages

#787212

42-654: Nuakhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha in India . Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. According to the calendar it is observed on panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhadraba (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha and Chhattishgarh also adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand, where

84-599: A huge palace where Brahma resides. Brahmaloka is a realm composed entirely of Brahman , considered superior to the Svarga loka and full of immortal energy, knowledge and bliss. It is also known as the planet of the Bhagavān. The above statement shows that Brahmaloka is an eternal Vaikuntha that is neither created nor located within the material realm and is a home for the Supreme Soul. Brahman-lokah esa atma-lokah "Brahmaloka

126-737: A new corn offering and rice eating festival of the Santals in Santal Pargana which they term Jom Nawa . Das Gupta (1978) has noted the Nawa ceremony of the Birjia, a section of the Asura tribe of Chhotanagpur. Bhaduri (1944:149-50) presents a short note on the celebration of a festival of the Tripura known as Mikatal where Mi stands for rice and Katal means new. It is celebrated in the month of Aswina (September–October).In

168-439: A symbol of Sambalpuri culture and heritage. In the early years, there was no fixed day for celebration of the festival. It was held sometime during Bhadraba Sukla Pakhya (the bright fortnight of Bhadraba). It was the time when the newly grown Kharif crop (autumn crop) of rice started ripening. There are reasons for observing the festival in the month of Bhadrava even though the food grain is not ready for harvesting. The thought

210-437: A type of folk lyrics and songs. Sambalpuri songs are quite popular throughout Odisha. Some hits include Rangabati , Ekda Ekda , Dalkhai , and Panbala Babu . Rangabati is a modern Sambalpuri song inspired by folk music, written in 1975, which enjoyed international popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. It was sung by Jitendra Haripal and Krishna Patel . There are so many intellectuals from Sambalpur. Gangadhar Meher

252-482: Is a famous poet from the state. Shraddhakar Supakar was a prominent writer and social activist from Sambalpur. Brahmapura Brahmaloka ( Sanskrit : ब्रह्मालोक, IAST : Brahmāloka) or Satyaloka ( Sanskrit : सत्यलोक) sometimes refers to the realm of Brahma , the creator god, a member of the Trimurti along with Vishnu and Shiva , along with his consort Saraswati . It is also referred to as Brahmapura, in

294-465: Is also a Vipaka mind. That is, what is the purpose of the mind is also the purpose of the Pratishandhi mind. And among the above-mentioned Brahma worlds, there is also a Bambalo, where the fourth Dhyana Vaduvas are born as Asanjasanta. Sages, yogis who have grown into intense meditation, are born here and have only a physical body. There is no mind. Yogis take the mind out of the body by gradually focusing

336-475: Is an occasion for people to lay their differences to rest and start relationships afresh. Towards the evening people meet one another, exchanging greetings. All differences are discarded and elders are wished nuakhai juhar . The elders bless their juniors and wish them long life, happiness, and prosperity. Even the partitioned brothers celebrate the festival under one roof. In the evening, folk dances and songs are organized called " Nuakhai Bhetghat ". People dance to

378-701: Is available in Balangir district. Fireclay is available at Belpahar in Jharsuguda district, Gandawara in Sambalpur district, and some places in Sundargarh district. (Source: Population of India , 2011) In addition to the ten districts listed abovementioned and shown on the map, the Western Odisha Development Council includes Athmallik Sub-Division of Anugul District on its website. Western Odisha

420-516: Is culturally influenced by several different cults and religions . Its history dates back to the Mahabharat and Buddhist period. Folk songs and dances of this area have been revived and recognized during the last quarter century, including Danda (Danda Yatra and Danda Nata), which is considered to be one of the oldest forms of variety entertainment in India, as well as the modern "Krushnaguru Bhajan ",

462-757: Is rich with minerals. Iron ore is available in plenty at Tensa and Barsuan in Sundargarh district , bauxite is available at Gandhamardan in Bargarh district , and coal is available in Himgir in Sundargarh district and Rampur in Jharsuguda district . Dolomite is available at Dubulabera and Kangorama in Sambalpur district and Lephripada in Sundargarh district. Graphite is available at Patnagarh and Titilagarh in Balangir district . Manganese ore

SECTION 10

#1732854757788

504-499: Is set for Nuakhai, the sanctity of the ritual has not lost its importance. Today, however, the system of setting the tithi and lagna and calling elderly persons for a consensus does not happen in urban areas. Nuakhai is celebrated both at the community and domestic level. The rituals are first observed at the temple of the reigning deity of the area or to the village deity. Afterward, the people worship in their respective homes and offer rituals to their domestic deity and to Lakshmi ,

546-456: Is that the impermanence that affects other worlds is common to this world of Brahma. Also, when born in the worlds of Brahma, such as Suddhavasa, the lifespan is very long, so a noble person who has all the paramitas can listen to the teachings of a Buddha and see nirvana in the worlds of Brahma. The Buddha says so because during the lifetime of the Brahman worlds, a large number of Buddhas appear in

588-531: Is the planet of the Supreme Soul." The Chandogya Upanishad says in 8:1 "Within the Brahmapura is an abode, a small lotus-flower within which is a small space (antarakasa). What is within that, should be searched out. That, assuredly, is what one should desire to understand." In Chandogya Upanishad 8.4.3, Brahmaloka is mentioned as a realm that one achieves by living a life of brahmacarya : So, only those who find this world of brahman (brahmaloka) by living

630-423: Is to present the grain to the presiding deity before any bird or animal pecks at it and before it is ready for eating. In early traditions, farmers would celebrate Nuakhai on a day designated by the village headman and priest. Afterward, under the patronage of royal families, this simple festival was altered into a mass socio-religious event celebrated in the entire Kosal region (western Odisha region). Every year,

672-464: The rishis (sages) had talked of panchayajna , the five important activities in the annual calendar of an agrarian society. These five activities have been specified as sitayajna (the tilling of the land), pravapana yajna (the sowing of seeds), pralambana yajna (the initial cutting of crops), khala yajna (the harvesting of grains) and prayayana yajna (the preservation of the produce). In view of this, Nuakhai may be seen as having evolved out of

714-550: The Odisha now living in Rajasthan Bangalore , Bhopal , Chennai , Hyderabad , Kolkata , Mumbai , Surat and Visakhapatnam have been celebrating Nuakhai in their new cities for the past few decades. The modern Nuakhai festival, now being observed on the fifth day of the second fortnight of Bhadrava, was unquestionably given a new look of homogeneity and uniformity by various social organizations of Western Odisha , including

756-752: The Oraon and Birjia, Jom Nawa among the Munda and Birjia, Janther or Baihar-Horo Nawai by the Santal, Gondli Nawakhani by the tribal people of Ranchi district, Nawa by the Birjia, Nawa-Jom by the Birhor, Dhan Nawakhani by Korwa, and so on. Russel and Hiralal have mentioned the Nawakhani festival of the Paraja, a small tribe found in the Bastar region and Odisha . Gautam (1977) observed

798-508: The Puranas . Brahmaloka also refers to the abode of Brahman . Brahmaloka is described to be 60,000,000 miles above the Prajapati loka and is considered to be of great soteriological significance. It is a sphere where the inhabitants never again know death , dwelling perpetually in the company of yogins , and drinking the excellent nectar of yoga . In the center of Brahmaloka is Brahmapura,

840-411: The beheren calls the villagers by blowing a trumpet. Then people get together and discuss with the priests the tithi and lagna (auspicious day and time) for Nuakhai. The priest consults the panjika (astrological almanac) and announces the sacred muhurta (a period of time equal to about 48 minutes) when nua is to be taken. There was an attempt made during the 1960s to set a common tithi for

882-467: The government of Odisha in 1991. It has lost some of its enormity and variety with the passage of time, but Nuakhai is still an occasion which endorses the patrimonial nature of the Sambalpuri culture and society. Western Odisha Historically it has been included within the larger region of Greater Kalinga . Its territory has been ruled by various dynasties, including: The Western Odisha region

SECTION 20

#1732854757788

924-633: The tithi (day) and samaya (time) of observance was astrologically determined by the Hindu priests. Priests sat together at the Brahmapura Jagannath temple in Sambalpur and calculated the day and time. The tithi (date) and lagna (auspicious moment) were calculated in the name of Pataneswari Devi in the Balangir- Patnagarh area, in the name of Sureswari Devi in the Subarnapur area, and in

966-521: The Brahmaloka are free from sensual desires. Brahmaloka consists only of higher devas or higher celestial beings called Brahmas and rebirth in the Brahma world is the result of great virtue due to meditation. The Jataka tales also contain various instances of ascetics who practiced meditation, being reborn after death in Brahmaloka. Furthermore, it is believed that while the rest of the world will be destroyed at

1008-648: The Brahmas whose body light is very vast. In Paritta Subha dwells the Brahmans who spread their light in a little way. Brahman, who spreads the immeasurable light of the infinite bliss, closes. Brahmas who radiate unchanging bodily light in Subha Kinha reside. The Brahmins who have attained Mahatphala Mahanisamsa in Vehappala are closed. The Dhamma also mentions the above-mentioned body light as Khyama Prabhava. According to Buddhism,

1050-596: The Nuakhai festival all over the western Odisha . It was decided this was not a workable idea. The idea was reintroduced in 1991 to set the Bhadraba Sukla Panchami tithi for the Nuakhai festival. This became successful and since then, the festival has been celebrated on that day, and the Odisha State Government has declared it an official holiday. Although for the sake of convenience a common auspicious day

1092-460: The Western Odisha region initiate preparations for the event 15 days in advance. Nuakhai is understood to have nine colours and as a consequence, nine sets of rituals are followed as a prelude to the actual day of celebration. These nine colours include: The preparations begin some 15 days prior to the date of the festival, when the elderly persons of the village sit together at a holy place after

1134-417: The agricultural community. The festival celebrated at a particular time of day which is called lagan . Aersaa Pithaa is prepared to celebrate this festival. When the lagan comes, the people first remember their village god or goddess and then have their khai . Nuakhai is the agricultural festival of people of Western odisha. The festival is observed throughout Odisha , but it is particularly important in

1176-512: The coastal districts of Odisha, the festival is called Nabanna . Regardless of the name, the main objective of this festival is to get social sanction for the new crop, and to invoke the deities to bless the land with abundant crops. Nuakhai is a cohesive and unified force between people of the Western Odisha living in Delhi , as they unite and celebrate together the occasion of Nuakhai. People from

1218-543: The culture of Western Odisha is much predominant. Nuakhai is also called Nuakhai Parab or Nuakhai Bhetghat . It is also known as Navakhai Parv in Chhattisgarh. The word nua means new and khai means food, so the name means the farmers are in possession of the newly harvested rice. The festival is seen as a new ray of hope, held the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It has a big significance for farmers and

1260-477: The deity of wealth in the Hindu tradition. People wear new clothes for the occasion. It is a tradition that after offering the nua to the presiding deity, the eldest member of the family distributes nua to other members of the family. After taking the nua, all the junior members of the family offer their regards to their elders. Thereafter follows the nuakhai juhar , which is the exchange of greetings with friends, well-wishers, and relatives. This symbolizes unity. This

1302-526: The end of a Maha-Kalpa , the Brahmaloka will survive and that the first beings to be born on Earth will come from the ābhassara Brahma world. The Brahmās here are represented as visiting earth and taking an interest in the affairs of men. This is why Nārada descends from the Brahmaloka to dispel the heresies of King Angati in the Lord Brahma-Nārada tale in the Mahanipata Jataka . Arupa worlds are

Nuakhai - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-476: The foot tapping traditional Sambalpuri dance forms like Rasarkeli , Dalkhai , Maelajada, Chutkuchuta , Sajani , Nachnia , and Bajnia . According to Singh, evidence can be found of the Nuakhai festival been observed by nearly all the major tribes in central and eastern India, with a minor difference in nomenclature. Jeth Nawakhai is celebrated among the Dudh Kharia and Pahari Kharia, Nawakhani amongst

1386-476: The formless Brahman worlds after death, and those who have attained higher formless meditation will be born in the formless Brahman worlds after death. For that, the Dhyanas acquired must die without deterioration. But worldly meditation taken as Ashtasamapatti can deteriorate. Therefore, those dhyanas acquired by meditating with vigor should be preserved without deterioration. The kirya mind was born in connection with

1428-633: The highest among all divine worlds Brahma worlds. Since the beings born in these Brahman worlds with very long lifespans are formless worlds, many Buddhas were born and preached the Dhamma, even if the beings are filled to the point of Ama Maha Nirvana, they do not get to hear the Dhamma. During the time when our great Bodhisattva was performing difficult tasks, Alara Kalama and Uddakaraputta, who were teachers, were born in these worlds after giving birth to Dhyana, so they did not get nirvana in this Buddha seat. Those who have acquired formative meditation will be born in

1470-492: The life and culture of Western Odisha . It is a festival for the worship of food grain. It has its best celebration in the Kalahandi , Sambalpur , Balangir , Bargarh , Sundergarh , Jharsuguda , Subarnapur , Boudh and Nuapada districts of Odisha. According to local researchers Nuakhai is of fairly ancient origin. Some researchers found the fundamental idea of the celebration can be traced back at least to Vedic times when

1512-459: The life of a celibate student (brahmacarya) come to possess that world, and they obtain complete freedom of movement in all the worlds. In Buddhism , Brahmaloka refers to the highest celestial worlds in existence, the abode of the Brahmas. It consists of twenty heavens, namely: All except the four Arūpa worlds are classed among the Rūpa worlds (the inhabitants of which are corporeal). The inhabitants of

1554-415: The mind on one goal at the same time as the fourth meditation. For this one must have strong mental concentration. This world of Brahma is born from animals in the same posture as when it was born from the world of man. Chaturtha Dhyanaddo should resolve to be born in this world of Brahman. Even though this is a metaphorical world, it should be abandoned when the specified life span is over. The reason for this

1596-465: The name of Manikeswari Devi in the Kalahandi area. In Sundargarh, Puja (worship) was first offered by the royal family to the goddess Sekharbasini in the temple which is opened only for Nuakhai. In Sambalpur, at the stipulated lagna (auspicious moment), the head priest of Samaleswari Temple offers the nua-anna or nabanna to the goddess Samaleswari , the presiding deity of Sambalpur . People in

1638-472: The rupavachara and arupavachara meditations associated with Buddhas and Arhats. These rupavachara, arupavachara meditation minds are also called Mahaggata minds in Abhidhamma. Meritorious minds, meritorious minds and meritorious minds are considered for those who are not rahats. Arhats will have milky hearts. There is no power of reciprocation in the mind. In this way, like the emotional mind, the Pratishandhi mind

1680-459: The significance of settled agriculture because the subsistence economy of the people in the area was primarily based on hunting and food gathering. He realised this form of economy could not generate the surpluses required to maintain and sustain a state. During state formation in the Sambalpuri region, Nuakhai as a ritual festival played a major role in promoting agriculture as a way of life. Thus credit can be given to Raja Ramai Deo for making Nuakhai

1722-522: The third activity, namely pralambana yajna , which involves cutting the first crop and reverently offering it to the mother goddess. Although the origin of the festival has been lost over time, oral tradition dates its back to the 14th century AD, the time of the first Chauhan King Ramai Deva , founder of the Patna State which is currently part of Balangir district in Western Odisha. In his efforts to build an independent kingdom, Raja Ramai Deo realized

Nuakhai - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-711: The world. All the Buddhas who appear in this way go to the world of snakes to preach the Dhamma. And the nature and composition of the worlds of Brahma are as follows. That is the people of the great Brahma reside in the Brahma Parisajja. In the Brahma Purohita resides the advisors of the great Brahma The Great Brahman is the world where the Great Brahman resides. Phrathabhaya is a world of Brahman with dim light. The light of appamanabha spreads immeasurably. In Abhassara resides

#787212