Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited festival of Odisha, Raja is here. Starting today, it will be three days of fun and frolic for women across the state celebrating womanhood as well as the advent of monsoon and the agricultural year.
Looking around, the streets wear a colourful look, the sweet smell of traditional delicacies wafts through homes and laughter reverberates around as young girls take to the swings in their new clothes.
This is one of those days when people away from home long to be back in the state to enjoy the festival. The joy of the festival has further spread with people wishing each other on social media. Interestingly, twitter has been flooded with Raja wishes from not just Odias like Baijayant Panda but non-Odias like writer Ravinder Singh too.
Here is how Twitterati wished #Rajaparba:
#RajaParba
Wish you all a fantastic “raw-jaw” (that’s the only way in English to get non-Odia speakers to say it right!), Odisha’s festival to welcome the monsoon: girls on swings, ‘pithas’ & other traditional delicacies, music & merrymaking, colourful atmosphere, all great fun?— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) June 14, 2018
Happy #RajaParba to all ,The great #Odia Festival pic.twitter.com/F1a8NVcfCz
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 14, 2018
ମୌସୁମୀ ର ପ୍ରଥମ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ ରେ ସମଗ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀ ଙ୍କୁ ‘ ରଜ ପର୍ବ ‘ର ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା Best wishes to the ppl of Odisha on #RajaParba -the festival of paying ovation to Mother Earth. We @JSPLCorporate are committed to inclusive development of Odisha through responsible Industrialisation.
— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) June 14, 2018
What surprised us the most was a tweet from author Ravinder Singh!
#RajaParba greetings to those who are celebrating. #OdiaFestival
— Ravinder Singh (@_RavinderSingh_) June 14, 2018
Likewise, people in other parts of the country like Delhi, Hyderabad are also enthusiastic about the festival. There have been reports of celebrations in these places.
In Delhi, #RajaParba celebration at Dilli Haat INA at 5 pm. Be there if you are around https://t.co/NHtb5eAi28
— Odia Culture (@OdiaCulture) June 14, 2018
