Raja festival Pahili Raja Sankranti 2023
Raja festival 2023 will be celebrated in Odisha from 14th June (Wednesday). Pahili Raja 2023 date is June 14. Raja Sankranti 2023 date is 15th June (Thursday). Sesa Raja Odia festival 2023 date is June 16 (Friday) according to Odia calendar.
Raja festival in Odisha 2023
Happy Raja Wishes
Here are some Raja festival wishes and messages in English to send to your family, friends, and loved ones. Check some Raja wishes as image and whatsapp status here.
- Wish you a Happy Raja! May the aroma of Poda Pitha fill this year’s Raja festival with happiness for you.
- Happy Raja! May the sweetness of Raja Paan make this festival and life sweeter for you.
- May the Raja Doli fill your life with endless excitement and joy. Wish you a Happy Pahili Raja!
- May Lord Jagannath’s blessings be upon you eternally. Wish you a Happy Raja Sankranti!
- When you wear new dress, have alata on your feet, and mehndi on your hands, you look the most beautiful. Happy Raja Parba!
- May you have a wonderful day celebrating this amazing festival with your family and friends. Have an amazing Raja this year.
- Enjoy mouth-watering Poda Pitha and Mitha Paan as much as you want today. Because Raja festival will end today. We have to wait another year. Wish you a Happy Sesa Raja!
During the first three days of Raja, it is believed that the mother Goddess Earth undergoes menstruation. The fourth day is known as Basumati Snana, or ceremonial bath of Bhudevi. The word ‘Raja’ is the Odia word for ‘menstruation’, derived from ‘Rajaswala’, which is interpreted to mean ‘a menstruating woman’. Menstruation is considered a sign of fertility, and so Raja celebrates femininity and the ability of women to give birth to another life.
Raja Sajabaja – 13 June 2023 (Tuesday)
The day before Pahili Raja is called Raja Sajabaja. Girls decorate their hands with Mehendi in preparation for the three-day Raja festival. They also go to clothes and accessory stores for last-minute shopping. With Raja being synonymous with swings, girls are also seen crowding around hammock vendors, who are making some quick bucks. The rope and plastic ones are the most popular.
Pahili Raja – 14 June 2023 (Wednesday)
The first day of Raja Parba is called Pahili Raja or Prathama Raja (First Raja). Actual celebration begins from this day. In the morning, unmarried girls decorate themselves with new fashion dresses or traditional sarees and ‘Alata’ on their feet. All people abstain from walking barefoot on the earth. Generally, various Pithas are made of which ‘Poda Pitha’ and ‘Chakuli Pitha’ are the main ones.
During the three days, women are given a break from household works. People play a lot of indoor and outdoor games. Girls play swings tied on tree branches whereas aged ladies play Cards and Ludo. Many villages organise Kabbadi matches among young men. The Raja song, sung by the girls is:
Banaste dakila Gaja,
Barasake thare aasichhi Raja,
Asichi Raja lo gheni nua sajabaja.
WATCH: Banaste Dakila Gaja song video feat. Barsha Priyadarshini
Raja Sankranti – 15 June 2023 (Thursday)
The second day is called Raja Sankranti or Mithuna Sankranti. It marks the commencement of the solar month of Mithuna, from which the rainy season begins. People do not go barefoot on the earth during the Raja festival because it is thought that the earth needs rest before the monsoon rains fall on it. Women take a break from housework, and farmers take a break from farming.
Everyone participates in games, with the women spending time indoors and on specially designed swings. These swings are referred to as ‘baunsa doli’, ‘pata doli’, ‘charki doli’, and ‘Rama doli’, among other names.
Sesa Raja – 16 June 2023 (Friday)
The third day is called Basi Raja or Bhudaha or Sesa Raja (Last Raja). Activities remain same like other two days. During the Raja Parba, people refrain from doing any construction works or activities which involve digging up the earth. We pay gratitude and respect to Mother Earth by doing so.
Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) celebrates ‘Raja Mahotsav’ across the state from June 13-16 at nine of its major outlets by organising a series of events related to the festival. Singing, merry-making, feasting, and display of gymnastic moves and playing games are the most important activities during the three-day festival. It is also customary to prepare a variety of traditional cakes and special delicacies like poda pitha, manda pitha, arisa, kakara, buta-nadia-alu tarkari, chakuli pitha and mansa tarakari, dahi bara, rice payas, malpua and special raja paan, which will be available in the OTDC outlets.
Basumati Snana – 17 June 2023 (Saturday)
It is the fourth day or final day of Raja Parba. Women bathe the grinding stone as a symbol of Bhumi, Goddess of the earth, with turmeric paste and adore with flower, sindoor and seasonal fruits.
Raja celebrations are not limited to the state. Odias residing outside the state and country also take part in the celebrations. Raja falls on the first day of the month of Asadha (June-July) from which the rainy season starts.
FAQ
Pahili Raja is the first day of Raja festival. It is celebrated every year on June 14. Women rise before dawn. Wash their hair and take a bath. Women have to wear Alata. Jewelry has to be worn along with new dresses. They eat Pitha and Paan. Then girls swing on Raja Doli.
Raja Sankranti is the second day of the Raja festival. Odia people celebrate it by eating Poda Pitha and Mitha Paan. It is also called Mithuna Sankranti.
The second day of the Raja festival is Raja Sankranti. It is also known as Mithuna Sankranti. Delicacies like Poda Pitha, Mutton curry, and Raja Pana make it one of the dearest and most special festivals in every Odia household.
You have to eat Poda Pitha and Mitha Paan. If you are a girl, you should wear a new dress. Do full make-up. Then play Raja Doli (swing). Play indoor games only.
Raja is a three-day festival celebrated mainly in Odisha. At this time Mother Earth is given rest and all agricultural activities are being suspended. It is believed that after this the earth becomes even more fertile.
Odia people eat various types of Pitha (cake) during the Raja festival. Poda Pitha and Mitha Paan are must-eat for everyone. Other pithas are – Chakuli, Arisha, Manda, etc.
Mother Earth is worshipped during Raja. It is believed to be undergoing her menstrual cycle during this festival. So mother earth is given a ceremonial bath on the fourth day.
Raja Parba is a unique festival that celebrates womanhood. It is believed that Mother Earth goes through a menstrual cycle for three days (Pahili Raja, Raja Sankranti, and Basi Raja) and is given a ceremonial bath on the fourth day (Basumati Snana).
Yes. Pahili Raja (June 14) and Raja Sankranti (June 15) are public holidays as per Odisha Government Calendar. But, Raja is a three-day festival.
You can’t eat non-veg on Raja Sankranti. Odia people enjoy it by eating many veg delicacies, Poda Pitha, Chakuli Pitha, Manda Pitha, Arisha Pitha, and Mitha Paan.
Raja Parba is the swing festival in Odisha. Because without a swing (doli), there is no meaning of the Raja celebration. Girls enjoy Raja doli by singing the ‘Banaste Dakila Gaja’ song.
Raja is celebrated by wearing new dresses and eating Poda Pitha, Chakuli Pitha & Mitha Paan. Girls enjoy three days by swinging on Raja Doli and playing indoor games.
June 14 is the date of Pahili Raja. It is the first day of the Raja festival. Mother Earth is given rest and all agricultural activities like digging the soil, and plowing the field, are being suspended.
The word ‘Raja’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Rajaswala’. It means a menstruating woman. It is believed that Mother Earth goes through a menstrual cycle during this period.
Raja Parba is mainly celebrated in Odisha. Odias who stay outside also observe it with great fun. Wearing a new dress, eating good food, and playing games is the main work during Raja.
The third day of the Raja festival is called Sesa Raja or Basi Raja. It is also called Bhudaha or Bhumi Dahana. It is the last day of Raja Parba to enjoy. Then you have to wait another year.
Raja Parba is the festival of menstruation in India. All three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. All agricultural operations remain suspended.
Raja and Rath Yatra are the two famous festivals of Odisha. Raja is celebrated in a grand way by Odias in each corner of the world. Rath Yatra is famous for Lord Jagannath.
Raja is the only festival in the world that celebrates womanhood and menstruation. It is believed that mother earth menstruates during these three days and a ceremonial bath takes place on the fourth day.
During the Raja festival, girls wear new clothes. Women are given a break from household work. They spend time on Raja Doli (swings), playing indoor games, and eating tasty food.
Girls play Raja Doli, such as ‘Rama Doli’, ‘Charki Doli’, ‘Pata Doli’, ‘Baunsa Doli’ etc. Young men of the village play various types of country games, such as Kabaddi, Taas, Ludo, etc.
The first day is called Pahili Raja or First Raja. The second day is Raja Sankranti or Mithuna Sankranti. The third day is popularly known as Sesa Raja or Basi Raja.
Raja is the number one festival celebrated in Odisha. People celebrate it by wearing new clothes and eating various types of Pithas & sweet Paan. Raja doli is compulsory for girls.
Raja is celebrated for three days in Odisha. The first day is Pahili Raja, the second day is Raja Sankranti and the last day is Sesa Raja or Basi Raja.
Raja is the biggest festival for every Odia. Women are given a break from household work. Unmarried girls will dress in new clothes and wear Alata (red dye) on their feet.
Unmarried girls wear new clothes, put mehendi on their hands, and wear Alata on their feet. The Raja Doli (swing), Poda Pitha, and sweet Paan are the main attraction.
Raja is the most awaited festival in Odisha. Women are given a break from household work. No activities like cultivation, construction, or any other work that hurts Mother Earth are done.
Odisha state celebrates the Raja Parba festival. This festival is celebrated for three days. The first day of the festival is called ‘Pahili Raja’, the second day is called ‘Raja Sankranti’, and the third day is ‘Basi Raja’ or ‘Sesha Raja’.
The first day is called Pahili Raja. The second day is Raja Sankranti. The third day is known as Sesa Raja or Basi Raja. These are the three days of the Raja festival.
It signifies the menstrual cycle of mother earth similar to that of a woman. This resting period of the earth is when all agricultural activities and construction works are forbidden.
Odisha state celebrates menstruation. There is a specific festival to celebrate the menstrual cycle of mother earth. Just like a menstruating woman, mother earth is allowed to take full rest during the Raja festival.
Raja festival is famous in Odisha. Because it is celebrated over three days. People don’t do any work during this time. Odias are busy with fun and merrymaking during this time.
Odisha state is called the land of festivals. Because more than 13 festivals are celebrated in 12 months. Every month, there is more than one festival.
Rajo is a popular festival in Odisha. According to Hindu mythology, Mother Earth undergoes menstruation for the first three days and then, a ceremonial bath takes place on the fourth day.
Rojo Sankranti is celebrated as a part of the Raja festival. It is the second day of the Raja Parba and signifies the beginning of the solar month of Mithuna from, which the season of rains starts.
Raja festival is celebrate in odisha with bittle eating nd swing doli.
Raja wish u to all odisha
PODAPITHA IS FIRST IN RECIPE OF ALL PITHAS’
k abhiMora samasta odishabasi mananku raja upalakhe hardik abhinandann.
I am so happy bcz i am a odia& odisha mora matrubhumi
Happy Raja Sankrati to All “ODISHABASI”
Odisha ra Samasta Bhai O Bhauni Nku Mora Raja Upalakhe Hardik Abhinandan