Raja celebrations in Odisha in full swing

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, June 14: The three-day annual Raja festival is being celebrated across in Odisha from today with traditional gaiety and fervour.The people, primarily unmarried girls wearing new dresses were seen enjoying the freshly prepared traditional delicacies such as Poda Pitha and Manda Pitha, Aarisha Pitha in their homes.The girls were also busy in riding swing.As the onset of monsoon had brought cheers among the people by putting an end to scorching heat, people were seen playing with cards, and taking part or enjoying different local sports events.In Bhubaneswar, the Raja Pana (sweet betel) and Poda Pitha is being sold at various locations.Many hotels have also organised special food festivals to commemorate Raja festival.Despite the tradition Raja celebrations changing in the recent years, many organisations have made efforts to keep the traditions alive by organising special programmes.The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has organised Raja Mahotsav at the Pantha Nivas situated at Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Barkul, Rourkela, Chandipur, Paradip, Konark, Gopalpur, Puri and Cuttack.A part of the celebrations, a food festival has been organised at the Pantha Nivas in Bhubaneswar where authentic Odia delicacies are being served to visitors.The girls are availing the facility of riding swing.In many towns across Odisha, three Raja releases by the Odia film industry – ‘Gapa Helebi Sata’, ‘Super Michhua’ and ‘Love You Hamesha’ are attracting good number of film lovers.Raja is an occasion of celebrations for the farming community when farmers take a complete break from farming activities.It is believed that the mother goddess Earth or the divine wife of Lord Vishnu undergoes menstruation during the first three days.The fourth day is called as Vasumati Gadhua or ceremonial bath of Bhudevi, according to mythology.