✨Raja Parba - रज पर्व

❀ The first day of the festival is called Pahili Raja, the second as Mithun Sankranti and the third as Bhu Dah or Basi Raja.
❀ The preparation starts a day before the first Raja, and is called sajabaza. Mainly, it is the time for unmarried girls to prepare for their marriage.
❀ It is mainly a festival for girls, girls eat nutritious food like poda pitha, do not walk barefoot, swing on ropes attached to trees and so on and follow various customs related to the festival.
❀ During the festival, the Odia people do not do any construction work or plowing which requires digging the earth. And by not doing such activities, they pay tribute to mother earth who needs a break from routine work.

There is a story related to this festival. Goddess Prithvi (Bhuma Devi), the consort of Lord Vishnu undergoes her menstrual cycle during this period. Interestingly, the word 'raja' in Odia means menstruation, and is derived from rajaswala, which means a woman who menstruates. Amazingly, it is a festival that celebrates this aspect of femininity that makes womanhood unique. Menstruation is considered a sign of fertility, and therefore, it celebrates womanhood and her ability to give birth to another life.

The festival ends with a ritual called Vasumati Snan or the bath of Bhuma Devi. Women worship a stone which is a symbol of Mother Earth. They bathe him with turmeric paste and offer flowers to him and smear him with vermilion. This festival is related to the Ambubachi fair of Assam.

The festival is also associated with the end of the summer season and the arrival of the monsoon. And hence, it is also associated with communities and activities related to agriculture and farming.

Raja is deeply connected with Odia culture and rural traditions. Schools often remain closed, villages organize cultural programs, and swings are installed under large trees. The festival reflects respect for nature and women in society.