Bhubaneswar: Odisha is celebrating the three-day Raja Parba, a unique festival celebrated each year during the month of Asadha. During this period, it is believed that Bhudevi (earth) menstruates and prepares herself for future agricultural activities.
‘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 in this festival. She would not have to work for 4 days and be allowed to take rest. They don’t walk barefoot, do not scratch the earth, do not grind, do not tear anything apart, do not cut and do not cook.
Young girls in the state on Tuesday welcomed Pahili Raja by taking bath after anointing their bodies with turmeric paste and dressing up in their best attire. There will be games of cards and ludo and swings. 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.
“Banaste dakila gaja
barasake thare asichhi raja
ani kete sajabaja”.
The first lines of the festival song mean ” The elephants are calling in the forest, the once in a year festival has come, bringing loads of adornments with it”.
The festival is also synonymous with varieties of cakes (pithas) – Poda Pitha’, ‘Manda’, ‘Kakara’, ‘Arisha’ and ‘Chakuli’.
While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished the people of Odisha on this day, many took to Twitter to share the significance of the festival. Check here:
ଗଣପର୍ବ ରଜ ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଆନ୍ତରିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ଓ ପରମ୍ପରାର ପ୍ରତୀକ ଏହି ପର୍ବ ସମାଜରେ ଆନନ୍ଦ, ଉତ୍ସାହ ଓ ଉଲ୍ଲାସ ଭରିଦେଉ। ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁଖ ଓ ମଙ୍ଗଳମୟ ଜୀବନ କାମନା କରୁଛି। #ରଜ pic.twitter.com/3kBqXlBhWy
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 14, 2022
Greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Deba Snana Purnima of Lord Jagannath and #RajaParba – the ancient festival celebrating fertility and womanhood.
May Mahaprabhu Jagannath shower his divine blessings on humanity.
Jai Jagannath🙏 pic.twitter.com/LlZEFUgapm
— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) June 14, 2022
On the occasion of #RajaParba a three day festival to celebrate the womanhood of mother earth. I am sharing one of my SandArt . #HappyRajaParba #Odiaparba pic.twitter.com/s8dolvUf5D
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 14, 2022
Happy Raja to all…🌸🌸🌸#ରଜପର୍ବ #RajaParba pic.twitter.com/8BxlJUIQRx
— Ink Therapy (@ink_therapy3) June 14, 2021
Happy Raja Parba to All , The great Odia festival. #rasmiranjanbishoi #sandanimation #art #sandart #Raja #RajaParba #Raja2022 #Odisha pic.twitter.com/6OfdbCawKh
— Rasmi Ranjan Bishoi (@RasmiRanjanArt) June 14, 2022
A beautiful festive period has begun, celebrating Womanhood, Mother Earth. Greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Raja Parba #RajaParba #OdiaParba https://t.co/dyL6EG2B76
— NILAMADHAB PANDA ନୀଳମାଧବ ପଣ୍ଡା (@nilamadhabpanda) June 14, 2022
Today we prepare for Raja, a festival that celebrates menstruating women. All three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. Impure to others, we celebrate womanhood. #women #RajaParba #menstruation #MenstruationMatters pic.twitter.com/j0jS89auT4
— Dr.Deb (@drtocin) June 14, 2022
Raja (𝘙𝘢𝘸-𝘫𝘢𝘸), is an Odia three-day festival that celebrates womanhood, and pays tribute to the menstruation cycle, sending a message that women are not impure during their periods. ‘Raja’ in Odia means menstruation, which is considered as a sign of fertility.#RajaParba pic.twitter.com/i60QMTliIH
— Sambit Upadhyay (@SambitUpadhyay) June 14, 2022
The only festival in the world which celebrates “Womanhood” and “Menstruation”. It is believed that mother earth menstruates for three days as Asadh Masa steps in. So everyone who thinks women are impure during their periods should see how “Odisha celebrates Raja” #RajaParba pic.twitter.com/HJK8ObjMjH
— Karishma Singh (@singhkarishma61) June 14, 2022
Celebrating the divine energy of Mother Earth, revering the soil that feeds us and the resilience and laughter of the girl child -the three day long Raja parba reminds us of the need to celebrate womankind, sisterhood and dispel all stigma around menstrual health.#RajaParba pic.twitter.com/oazUpXD3mE
— Anoushka Parija (@anoushkaparija) June 14, 2022
Happy Raja To All Odisha 🤩#RajaParba #HappyRaja #Odisha #JayJagannath pic.twitter.com/bwmMd4yr58
— Arijitian Deepak Kumar 🇮🇳🕉️🚩 (@Arijitiandeepak) June 14, 2022
Because menstruation is considered as a sign of fertility, and therefore, it celebrates femininity and her ability to give birth to another life.
Raja indeed is a unique festival among all the festivals that Odias celebrate.
Wishing all of you a very Happy Raja 🎊 pic.twitter.com/HidqMU6Wz8
— Clio’s Chronicles (@CliosChronicles) June 14, 2022
