Raja festival loosing its shine in Odisha

Raja is celebrated in the month of Odia calendar Asara [middle of month June] every year and the festival runs three days duration is highlighted with several traditional rituals in different phases and traditionally the fest is known as a woman dominated festival in Odisha.

The advent of modern culture, distaste of present generation towards the traditional festivals and lack of financial ability have contributed to the sharp decline in observance of the swing festival ‘Raja’. Once the festival was being observed with gusto and great éclat across the state especially in rural belts of Orissa.

Traditionally the fest called as woman dominated festival, as in these three days, the fairer sex are not supposed to cook at home or cut any thing, walking bare foot, scratch the earth, grind, tear anything. The male folks of family do cook, cut vegetables, prepare paan (tambul ) for the ladies. 

The ladies are supposed anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and take pacificatory bath in a river or pond and then wear clothes and jewelry every day. Infact, they get involved in merry making and playing cards and pashas in all these three days. In ancient literatures, special Raja songs are available which are chanted by the young girls. 

According to popular tradition of ‘Raja’ in the first day of festival maiden and young women rise early in the morning, do their hair, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and take pacificatory bath in a river or pond and then wear clothes and jewelry. However the ritual says bathing for the rest two days is prohibited for women and girls. They should not walk bare foot, scratch the earth, grind, tear any thing apart or cook during the festival. 

Mainly the festival is observed for three days in gaiety and merry making non vegetarian food items are prepared. An exclusive burned cake ‘Podapitha’ is made for the festival.

Moving up and down on the swings during the festival is a special feature of ‘Raja’. Girls sing songs specially meant for the festival from Orissa’s folk poetry. Chewing of Raja ‘Paan’ during the festival is a special ritual.

Raja’ still observes with full rituals among the people in rural areas mainly poverty-stricken common folks do utmost care observing ‘Raja’ in recent time while the middle class people and affluent class are uncared to follow the rich tradition of Raja

Raja’ pattern does not augur well for culture of the state, the festival speaks of love, affection, respect, social behavior and social order among people, loosing its relevance in villages and urban areas under the influence of modern culture has definitely taken toll as ‘Raja’ loses its sheen,