Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Sudarsan Pattnaik Celebrates Nuakhai With Sand Art At Puri Beach
Nuakhai is an important harvest festival celebrated in Odisha and nearby areas.
It is a time when people thank nature and celebrate farming.
Families offer the first rice harvested during the season to a deity.
They do this before eating the rice themselves.
On September 15, 2026, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik made a special artwork for the festival.
The artwork showed Goddess Samaleshwari, crops and a woman praying.
Pattnaik shared the artwork online and wished people a good harvest and prosperity.
The festival is especially important in several farming districts of Odisha.
Sudarsan Pattnaik created a Nuakhai-themed sand artwork at Puri Beach on September 15, 2026.
The artwork depicts Goddess Samaleshwari, crops and a traditionally dressed woman praying for a good harvest.
Pattnaik shared the artwork on X with wishes for harvest and prosperity.
Nuakhai involves offering the season’s first harvested rice to a presiding deity before community consumption.
The festival is especially important in Odisha’s agricultural districts, including Sambalpur, Bargarh and Balangir.
- Who
- Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik marked the festival with an artwork featuring Goddess Samaleshwari.
- What
- He created and shared a Nuakhai-themed sand artwork conveying festival greetings and prayers for a good harvest.
- When
- Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
- Where
- Puri Beach, Odisha; Nuakhai is also celebrated in parts of neighboring regions.
- Why
- To extend Nuakhai greetings and highlight the festival’s connection to harvest, agriculture and prosperity.
- Festival
- Nuakhai
- Date
- September 15, 2026
- Artist
- Sudarsan Pattnaik
- Artwork location
- Puri Beach
- Central figure
- Goddess Samaleshwari
- Festival tradition
- Offering the season’s first harvested rice to the presiding deity before eating it
- Key regions
- Odisha districts including Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Subarnapur and Kalahandi