Bhubaneswar: Raja Parba, also known as Mithun Sankranti, is a three-day long festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and grandeur in Odisha. The festival is dedicated to honouring Mother Earth and celebrating womanhood. It will conclude on June 15.
President Droupadi Murmu greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion. “The people of Odisha celebrate the Raja by showing their respect to soil, rain and by including in playing swings, relishing pithas and paan. On the occasion of this agricultural festival, I wish happiness, peace and prosperity to the people of the state and country,’ she posted on X.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi also extended his wishes to the people on Raja Parba and wrote in Odia: “…….May this festival which highlights Odia tradition and culture bring happiness to the lives of people.”
‘Raja’ is derived from the word ‘Rajaswala’ which means menstruating women. Each and every woman is compared with the Bhudevi and given a special place during this festival. She allowed to take a break from household chores on these days. The women don’t walk barefoot, do not scratch the earth and refrain from grinding, tearing anything apart, cutting or cooking.
It begins with ‘Saja Baja’ when young girls take bath after anointing their bodies with turmeric paste and all preparations are done to celebrate the three-day festivities. On Friday, they wore their best attire, adorned themselves with ornaments and alata for ‘Pahili Raja’. ‘Banaste Dakila Gaja, Barasake Thare Aasichhi Raja, Asichi Raja Logheni Nua Sajabaja’, is a popular folk song sung by girls as they take to swings hanging from the low branches of the trees on the occasion. There will also be games of cards and ludo.
The second day is called Mithun Sankranti; the third day is called ‘Bhu Daha’, or Basi Raja. The fourth day i.e. the last day of the festival is called Basumati Snan. On the last day, people give bath to mother earth or Bhumi with turmeric paste flowers and put sindoor or vermillion. They offer different types of fruits and sweets and seek blessings of Mother Earth.
The festival is also synonymous with varieties of cakes (pithas) – Poda Pitha’, ‘Manda’, ‘Kakara’, ‘Arisha’ and ‘Chakuli’.
