"Under the pleasant weather, when hot & harsh summer has just subsided by the gown of grey clouds in the sky, giving relief from prickly summer humidity ....When the monsoon has just arrived with strips of rain, healing the withered earth that has been cracked due to harsh summer, The month of June calls for "Rajaw Festival", An emotion for every Odiyas..."
Rajaw is a three day long festival of Odisha celebrated every year during the month of June, in the month of Asada. It implies the celebration of womanhood.. The term "Rajaw'' is derived from "Rajaswala'' meaning, the menstruating woman.. There is a belief that mother earth undergoes a menstruating state on those 3 days. So to give her rest, all types of agricultural work are abstained on those days...Those days, girls(considered equivalent to mother earth), are also forbidden from doing any domestic activities. They would pamper themselves with new attires and engage in fun and joy of the festivities. They would play on Swing, play traditional games and relish mouthwatering foods.. One of which is Poda pitha, the quintessential pancake, made in Raja, along with varieties of delicious spreads, and Raja paana, the special attraction of the festival…
Odisha is one of the few states to celebrate womanhood in a grand way.. It strives to break the taboo of "Girls on period" being impure & Im proud to be a part of it..
The first day is Pahili Rajaw, second day is Mithuna Sankranti or Rajaw Sankranti, which marks the beginning of the rainy season & the third day is Basi Rajaw or Sesa Rajaw. The fourth day is "Vasumati snana" , a ritual of giving ceremonial baths to Mother earth.
The drenched earth, now softened by the monsoon rains, gets ready for agricultural activities, marking the beginning of the rainy season.
It's an emotion for us..I have wonderful memories of Rajaw celebration, at my maternal uncle's home. Every year we would wait for summer vacation to start, so that we could visit there. Pre-Rajaw preparation would start there a couple of days before... My nostalgia of Rajaw is..
A much awaited get together of friends & relatives, cousin squad, pre-raja shopping for new dresses & accessories. Celebration would begin, where ladies of the house wud be having fun, gossiping, making poda pitha..arisa, karanji & many more delights..to savour. Whereas men would have gala time playing cards, carrom, ludos..& the list goes on....On day of Raja, dressed up in new attires, with mehendi dyed palm & alata stained feet, we would be relishing yummy pithas & delicious spreads, & not to mention the special "Rajaw Paana'', the meetha paan made, where betel leaves with mixture of gulkand, colourful sugar coated fennel, coconut, supari & different masalas..is rolled into triangular shape...would be our special appetizer & we wud show our red stained lips...( Hahaha), then playing games & swings, called "Rajaw doli'' which would have made on branch of the tree, the main attraction of Rajaw parba. .A folk song is sung..
"Banaste dakila Gaja
Barasake thare asichi Raja
Asichi Raja lo gheni nua saja Baja
Baulo lo gheni nua saja Baja"
Although these days the charm of the festival seems to be fading, yet it prevails. Girls are more excited for this festival, so that they could do Raja shopping, dress-up & relish on delicious traditional cuisines & party all day. To keep the traditions & glory alive, the Odia communities in towns & cities come up with events celebrating Raja festival every year, in a grand way across the country.
The three-days festival is meant to be well celebrated.
