Preparations for the three-day Raja festival are in full swing across the state. This festival has a special place in the hearts of Odisha people. They celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm.
Tomorrow will be Pahili Raja and today is called ‘Sajabaja’. ‘Sajabaja’ means preparations. Traditionally, a lot of things are required to do ahead of the Raja festival. Today in rural as well as urban areas, girls can be found applying ‘alata’ on their feet and getting mehendi designs done on their palms and hands from seniors and experts. As Raja festival can’t be imagined without several mouth-watering delicacies, cakes, pasties and sweets, women folks can be found busy preparing them.
Raja festival falls in mid-June (ideally June 14). Though Raja festival is a three-day affair, it is actually observed for five days. While the first day is called ‘Sajabaja’, the second day is known as ‘Pahili Raj’, the third day is ‘Majhi Raja’ ‘Raja Sankranti’ or ‘Mithuna Sankranti’, the fourth day is ‘Bhudaha’ or ‘Basi Raja’ or ‘Sesha Raja’. And the fifth day is called ‘Basumati Snana’. On this day, ladies give a bath to the grinding stone, considering it as mother earth.
The uniqueness of this festival lies in the fact that it is celebrated to honour womanhood.
During the festival, young unmarried girls are refrained from cutting, cooking or doing anything because that might make them tired.
They are even not allowed to walk barefoot. They are allowed to take complete rest. They enjoy the three-day-long festival to their fullest. They in new clothes look their best in these three days.