The Samaleswari Temple is dedicated to the goddess Samaleswari, one of the most venerated deities of western Odisha and the presiding deity of nearby Sambalpur. In Balangir, the temple draws devotees throughout the year and is particularly busy during the festival of Nuakhai, a harvest celebration that marks the beginning of the new crop season and is one of the most important festivals in the Sambalpuri cultural calendar.
Nuakhai, celebrated in late August or September, transforms Balangir and the surrounding district. The streets fill with processions, traditional Sambalpuri music is played, and families gather to share the first rice of the new harvest. Visiting during Nuakhai gives a window into the region's agricultural rhythms and the strong bond between the people of western Odisha and their goddess.