The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Coastal Orissa celebrates Raja with gaiety

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 15, 2007
ePaper

Other States

Other States - Orissa

Coastal Orissa celebrates Raja with gaiety

Correspondent

Observed as festival for unmarried girls

The festival accompanies the advent of monsoon
At most places, celebrations drift from the traditions

CUTTACK: After hot and humid days of summer and with the advent of the monsoon, people in the coastal districts of the State are now in celebration mode as the three-day ‘Raja’ festival began on Thursday.

People in rural pockets, particularly in the undivided districts of Cuttack, Puri and Balasore, are excited for the three-day merriment with pleasant climatic condition that suits the mood of the festival.

Better observed as the festival for unmarried girls, people of all ages and gender in this part of the State wait fervently for this annual gaiety and get-together as the timing of the festival goes well with everybody. "I am going to my native village in Kendrapara to celebrate the festival with all my friends over there. It would be exciting to spend a few days in the calm and quite atmosphere of a village", says Munmun Mohanty who passed her matriculation examination this year. After all, we have got a perfect Raja paga (weather conditions) for merrymaking this year, she feels.

Grand plans

Like Munmun, many others of her age have chalked out grand plans to celebrate the Raja festival in the city here itself. "During last two years, I was totally engrossed in my studies and skipped all festivities and celebrations. For girls of my age, there cannot be a better occasion than Raja festival to have fun and amusement after the examinations," says Rashmita Das of the city.

The festival of ’Raja’ that accompanies the advent of monsoon is basically an occasion of celebrations for the farmer community, as it is believed that Mother Earth takes rest during these days for its annual cycle of productivity. It bounces back with the vigour to deliver the bounties for the next cropping season.

But the age-old traditions of celebrations have given way to new approaches with the festivities limited to lavish spending on new dresses and other purchases with cooking delicacies that doesn’t match with the spirit of the festival.

Except in some rural pockets in undivided Cuttack and Puri districts, Raja celebrations have drifted far away from the old traditions. Gone are the days when unmarried girls in groups enjoyed the festival by playing without having to do any household chores.

Wearing new dresses with bridal attires and foot covers, they spend the entire three days merrymaking and playing. Playing on swing in groups and singing the Raja song, steamed rice cake (Poda pithha), other culinary and pan are traditionally attached to this festival. But nowadays, all these traditions have taken a back seat and the festival have lost its true spirit, particularly in urban areas.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Award for Sudarsan Acharya

An encounter to no avail

Coastal Orissa celebrates Raja with gaiety

Students block two highways

Sarala Award conferred on poet Dasarathi Das

Sigh of relief as monsoon enters State

Governor’s wife hospitalised

Youth’s death triggers violence

Two arrested in robbery case

Landmine blast at MV79 village