Bhubaneswar, Sep 6 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of the agricultural festival Nuakhai.

"Nuakhai Juhar. Greetings to the people of Odisha on this special festival. May this festival bring more prosperity in the lives of farmers," the Prime Minister said.

National BJP president Amit Shah also wished the people in Odisha.

"Greetings to the people of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of #NuakhaiJuhar. May this Nuakhai bring happiness & prosperity for all," tweeted Shah.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh also took to the social media to wish the people for the agrarian festival.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also greeted the people on the occasion.

"May this divine festival celebrating hard work of our farmer community usher in progress & prosperity #NuakhaiJuhar," tweeted the Chief Minister.

Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan -- both from Odisha -- also wished the people on Nuakhai. Several state ministers and leaders of different political parties also greeted the people on the occasion.

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand sculpture at Puri beach to wish the people on the occasion.

Nuakhai is an agriculture festival celebrated primarily in western Odisha by farmers to thank "Mother Earth" for being so bountiful. The festival is akin to Onam in Kerala. The festival is celebrated on the day after Ganesh Chaturthi.