A year has passed by.... I tried to retrieve what I had said last year on the eve of Nuakhai....
"In Sambalpuri, there is a term 'shenrra'. I can not exactly translate that to other language but roughly that means one who has habituated to all odds. The farmers have now become 'shenrra'. While the rain god has not been too kind, pests have menacingly eaten all hopes. Lands are still lying barren, crops have dried, plants have been reduced to their roots. More tears flowing off the farmer's eyes than rainfall dropping on the earth. But still, we the 'shenrras' are going to celebrate the Nuakhai on the 24th. For a day at least, we will not think of our crop and how ours families will survive the year and years to come."
Ironically enough, our skins have become thicker and we have become more 'shenrra'. As we go to celebrate 'Nuakhai' tomorrow, we will at least for half a day forget that many of our crop lands have stayed barren, the cultivated crops are parching. The situation this year has been worse than last year.
Still we the farmers will continue to thank our god for helping us with a 'grand crop'.
Of course, irrespective of the status of our crops we eagerly wait for 'Nuakhai' for other reasons as well. This is one day when all family members try their best to converge at place.. all villagers/habitants will great each other. At least for a day we will try our best to make merry... our weakening digestive system will try to eat all delicacies that we can afford; and our ageing legs will try to play youthful sports. Yes, we will also bow our heads to each and every elder (even to whom we have long-standing enemity; or even to whom we do not otherwise consider as worthy of our respect). Nuakhai teaches us that all elders have to be respected, for they definitely know something more than us and take care of us.
So, HAPPY NUAKHAI...! Come join the celebration - On this day nothing comes first than our respect to our gods, elders and our farming.
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