Samaleśvarī Devī

Samaleśvarī of Sambalpur is the iṣṭa-devī of the entire western Odisha region, venerated by tribal, Hindu, and Jain communities alike. The goddess is said to have come from the Mahā-Vindhyā range. Her temple on the Mahānadī river is the focal point of the Nuakhāi festival (first-rice-eating, just after Bhādra-Amāvasyā) — the regional equivalent of Onam. Also associated with Dhanu-Yātrā — a 10-day open-air re-enactment of Krishna's Kamsa-slaying that uses the whole town of Bargarh as its