President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her wishes to all the Odias on the occasion of Raja festival on Wednesday.
Taking to Twitter, Murmu wrote, “I extend my heartfelt wishes to all the Odias on the agriculture-based festival, Raja. The festival is celebrated in Odisha for three days with zest. I wish prosperity and health to all the Odias out there and the whole of India.”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice President, Baijayant Panda conveyed his wishes on Raja too. “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all on the occasion of Raja. May this festival of joy fill everyone's lives with happiness, peace and prosperity,” he tweeted.
Three-day Raja festival has begun on Wednesday with the first day being Pahili Raja, the second day (Thursday) being Raja Sankranti and the last day, (Friday) being the Sesha Raja.
Most of the festival is connected to agriculture in one way or the other. Odisha’s Raja festival is unique as mother earth is worshipped during this festival.
Notably, ‘Pahili Raja’ falls on the last day of the month ‘Jyestha’ and ‘Raja Sankranti’ on the first day of the month ‘Asadha’, celebrating the beginning of the rainy season.
The festival’s association with mother earth can be understood from the fact that the fourth day of the festival is called ‘Basumati Snana’. On this day, after undergoing three days of her menstruating period, women give a ceremonial bath to the grinding stone, considering it as mother earth.