Nabarangpur, (Ranjit Naik) Date: 23.12.2025 Rikh: In Mirganguda village in Nabarangpur Tehsil, the traditional ‘Gao Balani’ festival has been nurtured with great determination! This festival of the goddess Maa Sunadei, the goddess of the village, is not only a celebration, but a classical law for the safety and peace of the village! Before celebrating this festival, the villagers gather and discuss in the Panchayat meeting! Usually Tuesday is fixed for Balani! If there is any incident in the village or there is a problem in the worshiper’s family, then the date is changed! The main purpose of this ‘Balani festival’ is to free the village from all negative energy and keep cows, goats, sheep and all domesticated animals healthy! All the garbage of the village is collected and thrown outside the village, which is a symbolic tradition to keep the village disease free! The villagers bring Sunadee’s carriage to the main place of the village and the worshipers worship it! After the end of the village-based puja, everyone leaves the village and goes to the field! Once again there is worship of my mother! In the said field, everyone cooks for themselves and eats prasad! Later, with great respect, mother’s carriage is brought back to the temple and installed! Two or three days after the Balani festival, the villagers celebrate the ‘Diyali’ festival with great enthusiasm! This old tradition is a shining example of unity and respect among the villagers even in today’s modern era! Ranjit Naik’s report from Nabarangpur First News Odisha !