‘Pitha On Wheels’, Raja Celebrations At All Panthanivas & Special Counters In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: With revellers soaking in three-day Raja festivities after two years of COVID restrictions, the Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) on Tuesday inaugurated ‘Raja Mahotsav’ at Panthanivas here and launched ‘Pitha on Wheels’, three for Bhubaneswar and one for Cuttack.

“The OTDC makes special arrangements with all varieties of ‘pithas’ and swings every year. Raja, however, is being celebrated in a low-key manner for the last two years owing to the pandemic. Earlier, Raja Mahotsav was held only in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. This year, we have decided to extend it to all 18 Panthanivas,” said Odisha Tourism Department Director Sachin Ramachandra Yadav.

He said that poda pitha, manda, kakara, arisha, chhenapoda, Labangalata and khiragaja would be available at Pantha Nivas across the state

The Odia pithas will also be available at special counters near Saheed Nagar Durga Mandap ground, at State Museum and KIIT Square in the city. Similarly, special beetle counters have been put up at different squares of Bhubaneswar.

This festival unique to Odisha celebrates menstruation and womanhood. It is believed Bhudevi or Earth undergoes her menstrual cycle during this period before the onset of rains. The word ‘Raja’ is derived from the Sanskrit word Rajaswala, which means a menstruating woman.