Raja fervor catches up people across State

Bhubaneswar: The festive mood on Raja Sankranti was thick in the air all over the State today. People in the coastal districts as well as in Koraput and Jeypore celebrated the second day of the three-day Raja festival with enthusiasm and gaiety.

Typical popular Odia sweet dish Podapitha, a type of pan cake made of rice powder, molasses, coconut, camphor and ghee, was prepared in many households of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on the occasion.

For four-year-old Mamuni, Raja is a festival of new dresses, sweets, cakes and lots of fun, sans studies.

"Young girls do not take rice during this festival and sustain only with different types of cakes and vegetable curries," said Puspanjali Swain.

This is the occasion for them to wear new dresses, buy lots of cosmetics and meet friends, she said, adding that unmarried girls mostly swing and sing traditional Raja songs during these days.