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Three-day Raja Festival to begin tomorrow

CUTTACK: With the advent of monsoon comes the occasion of merrymaking -- The Raja -- a three-day agrarian festival which is better meant for unmarried girls but now people of all ages and gender are taking part in it. Although, the actual festival is scheduled to begin from Tuesday, preparations for it have already started in the State. People in rural pockets, particularly of the undivided districts of Cuttack, Puri, and Balasaore observe the festival.

While the festival is losing its sheen in urban areas, many organisations, however, are making sincere efforts to keep the age-old traditions of celebration alive by organising special programmes. “Raja is basically an occasion of celebrations for farming community, and now-a-days people in urban areas do not understand the importance of the celebration,” says Debendra Behera, a native of Kendrapada district. 

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, he says.

With a view to keeping the tradition alive, the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has made arrangements to celebrate the festival in Pantha Niwas here. The Cuttack Club and a few other organisations are also planning some special programmes.

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