CM Naveen wishes Odisha on occasion of Raja

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended his warm wishes to all denizens of the state on the occasion of Raja, the ‘festival of swings’ on Friday.

Taking to his twitter handle the CM posted, “I wish this unique Odia festival brings happiness and joy in everyone’s lives.”

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଅନନ୍ୟ ସାଂସ୍କୃତିକ ଗଣପର୍ବ ରଜ ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଶୁଭକାମନା। ଆମ ଗୌରବମୟ ପରମ୍ପରାର ପ୍ରତୀକ ଏହି ପର୍ବ ସମାଜରେ ଆନନ୍ଦ, ଉତ୍ସାହ ଓ ଉଲ୍ଲାସ ଭରିଦେଉ। ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁଖ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି କାମନା କରୁଛି। pic.twitter.com/UotOAMC0bV

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 14, 2019

Raja or Raja Parba falls on Mithuna Sankranti which is a three-day-long festival celebrated across Odisha.

Raja is a unique festival that celebrates fertility. Earth or the divine wife of Lord Vishnu undergoes menstruation during the first three days. The fourth day is called Vasumati Snana, or ceremonial bath of Bhudevi. All kinds of agricultural operations are suspended during the first three days as Mother Earth is supposed to be given full rest.

Unmarried girls and newly married women adorn new clothes, jewellery and have a fun-filled three days with a bunch of special delicacies. Poda pitha is a delicacy associated Raja. Other than the poda pitha delicacies like Arisa pitha, Mutton curry and Raja Pana makes it one of the dearest and special festival in every Odia household.

Another major highlight of this festival is the swings. The swings are of different varieties, such as ‘Ram Doli’, ‘Charki Doli’, ‘Pata Doli’, ‘Dandi Doli’ etc are put up across towns and villages.

All in all, Raja is a celebration of productivity of a woman. When women all around the world are fighting menstrual taboos, Odisha is in its own way is actually celebrating a women’s fertility for years now.

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