Is urban celebration of Raja in Odisha stripping the festival off its roots?

The Raja festival, once rooted in agrarian rituals and feminine symbolism, is undergoing a striking transformation in urban Odisha. In cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the celebration has become a showcase of lifestyle trends, from designer swings and curated outfits to online cake orders and themed events. This modern makeover, amplified through social media, has widened the cultural disconnect between urban and rural observances.

While city-based celebrations often emphasise aesthetics and entertainment, the traditional essence of Raja, celebrating the fertility of Mother Earth and womanhood, receives less attention. Meanwhile, in villages, practices such as resting during menstruation and preparing Poda Pithas still continue.

Chichandri Tula, a resident of Kuchinda, Sambalpur said, "During my childhood, I had celebrated Raja with friends and family. It was during summer vacation, so the entire family gathered. Cousins and relatives visited us. Raja as much as a cultural festival, equally has an emotional attachment for every Odia. We all gathered together outside the kitchen, ate Poda Pithas, and then we used to play Ludo."

"Today, the world has become vast, and people's lives have become smaller and lonelier. Nobody has time to visit family or enjoy a proper home-cooked meal. Our younger generation depicts their celebration and enjoyment through social media posts, and their lives revolve around it. I believe they are not getting to live the childhood that we did."

This growing urban-rural divide has led to a subtle erosion of the festival’s core values. As urban youth engage more with Raja as a social event than a cultural observance, rural communities are witnessing their inherited customs overshadowed or overlooked altogether.

Devanshi, a teen from Cuttack, shared her opinion and said, "Raja is very fun as we get to wear new clothes. I'll later visit a cafe with my friends and go to the park to play on swings. We will take some pretty pictures together and commemorate our celebration."

The shift also reflects a broader imbalance in cultural preservation, where rural traditions sustain the festival's foundation, yet urban narratives dominate its image.