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{{short description|Festival of Odisha}}
[[File:Raja Doli khela Odia festival.jpg|thumb|Raja Doli khela, Odia festival]]
'''Rajo''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: {{IPA|/ɾɔd͡ʒɔ/}} {{Lang-or|ରଜ}}) or '''Rajo Parba''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: {{IPA|/ɾɔdʒɔ pɔɾbɔ/}} {{Lang-or|ରଜ ପର୍ବ}}), also known as ''Mithuna Sankranti'', is a three-day-long festival of womanhood celebrated in [[Odisha]], India. The second day of the festival signifies beginning of the solar month of Mithuna from, which the season of rains starts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four-day Festival of Odisha 'Rajo Parba' is all about celebrating Womanhood|url=http://www.newsgram.com/four-day-festival-of-Odisha-rajo-parba-is-all-about-wishing-a-happy-raja-festival-2018}}</ref>

== Mythology ==
[[File:Jagannatha naya.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Idols of Bhudevi and Shridevi at [[Nayagarh]], below Jagannath (dark one).]]
It is believed that the mother Goddess Earth or the divine wife of Lord [[Vishnu]] undergoes menstruation during the first three days. The fourth day is called ''Vasumati Snana'', or ceremonial bath of [[Bhudevi]]. The term Raja came from the Sanskrit word '<nowiki/>''Rajas''<nowiki/>' which means menstruation and when a woman menstruates, she is called '''Rajaswala''<nowiki/>' or a menstruating woman, and in medieval times the festival became more popular as an agricultural holiday marking the worship of [[Bhudevi]], who is the wife of lord [[Jagannath]].
A silver idol of [[Bhudevi]] is still to be found in the Puri Temple beside Lord Jagannath .

==Rajaparba==
It falls in mid June,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sen|first1=Sushmita|title=Raja Parba 2016: This 4-day Odiya festival honours womanhood [PICTURE GREETINGS]|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/raja-parba-2016-this-4-day-odiya-festival-honours-womanhood-picture-greetings-682628|access-date=4 October 2016|language=en}}</ref> the first day is called '''Pahili Raja''',<ref>{{cite web|title=CHECK: RAJA Sankaranti festival 2021 date, Pahili Raja Quotes,Wishes,Shayari Images Online |url=https://www.pixnama.com/raja-sankranti/|website=Pixnama.com |access-date=14 June 2021 }}</ref>
second day is Mithuna Sankranti, third day is '''Bhudaaha''' or '''Basi Raja'''.
The final fourth day is called '''Basumati snana''',
in which the ladies bath the grinding stone as a symbol of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]] with turmeric paste and adore with flower, sindoor etc. All type of seasonal fruits are offered to mother Bhumi.
The day before first day is called '''Sajabaja''' or preparatory day during which the house, kitchen including grinding stones are cleaned, spices are ground for three days. During these three days women and girls take rest from work and wear new [[Saree]], Alata, and ornaments. It is similar to [[Ambubachi Mela]].
The most popular among numerous festivals in Odisha, Raja<ref>{{cite news|title='Raja Utsav' to be celebrated tomorrow|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/raja-utsav-to-be-celebrated-tomorrow/article1856168.ece|access-date=29 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=14 June 2007|language=en-IN}}</ref> is celebrated for three consecutive days. Just as the earth prepares itself to quench its thirst by the incoming rain the unmarried girls of the family are groomed for impending matrimony through this festival. They pass these three days in joyous festivity and observe customs like eating only uncooked and nourishing food especially ''[[Podo pitha|Podapitha]]'', do not take bath or take salt, do not walk barefoot and vow to give birth to healthy children in future. The most vivid and enjoyable memories one has of the Raja gaiety is the rope-swings on big banyan trees and the lyrical folk-songs that one listens from the nubile beauty enjoying the atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news|title=Raja Festival : Odisha's unique fest to raise toast to womanhood & Nature|url=https://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/raja-festival-odishas-unique-fest-to-raise-toast-to-womanhood-nature-221937|access-date= 15 June 2017|work= OdishaTv|language=en-IN}}</ref>

To celebrate the advent of monsoon, the joyous festival is arranged for three days by the villagers. Though celebrated all over the state it is more enthusiastically observed in all over the Odisha but celebrated with much fervour across the coastal districts. The first day is called "''Pahili Raja''", second is "'''Raja Sankranti'''" <ref>{{cite web|title=CHECK: RAJA Sankranti Odisha 2021 date, Wishes, Images, Sms {{!}} Pahili Raja,Raja Sankaranti Images Online |url=https://www.odiasayari.com/raja-sankaranti-odisha/|website=Odiasayari.com |access-date=15 June 2021 }}</ref> and third is "''Bhumi Dahana'' or ''Basi Raja''".

According to popular belief as women menstruate, which is a sign of fertility, so also Mother Earth menstruates. So all three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. During the festival all agricultural operations remain suspended. As a mark of respect towards the Earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural works comes to a standstill during these days. Significantly, it is a festival of the unmarried girls, the potential mothers. They all observe the restrictions prescribed for a menstruating woman. The very first day, they rise before dawn, do their hair, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and then take the purificatory bath in a river or tank. Peculiarly, bathing for the rest two days is prohibited. They don't walk bare-foot do not scratch the earth, do not grind, do not tear anything apart, do not cut and do not cook. During all the three consecutive days they are seen in the best of dresses and decorations, eating cakes and rich food at the houses of friends and relatives, spending long cheery hours, moving up and down on improvised swings, rending the village sky with their merry impromptu songs.

The swings are of different varieties, such as 'Ram Doli', 'Charki Doli', 'Pata Doli', 'Dandi Doli' etc. Songs specially meant for the festival speak of love, affection, respect, social behaviour and everything of social order that comes to the minds of the singers. Through anonymous and composed extempore, much of these songs, through sheer beauty of diction and sentiment, has earned permanence and has gone to make the very substratum of Odisha's folk-poetry. While girls thus scatter beauty, grace and music all around, moving up and down on the swings during the festival, young men give themselves to strenuous games and good food, on the eve of the onset of the monsoons, which will not give them even a minute's respite for practically four months making them one with mud, slush and relentless showers, their spirits keep high with only the hopes of a good harvest. As all agricultural activities remain suspended and a joyous atmosphere pervades, the young men of the village keep themselves busy in various types of country games, the most favourite being 'Kabadi'. Competitions are also held between different groups of villages. All nights 'Jatra' performances or '[[Gotipua]]' dances are arranged in prosperous villages where they can afford the professional groups. Enthusiastic amateurs also arrange plays and other kinds of entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Know more about Festivities of Odisha during days of Raja Parba - Bhubaneswar Buzz|url=http://www.bhubaneswarbuzz.com/updates/festivals/know-festivities-odisha-days-raja-parba|website=Bhubaneswarbuzz|access-date=4 October 2016|date=14 June 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ambubachi Mela]]
* [[Jagannath]]
* [[Keddaso]]
* [[Odia language]]
* [[Odia literature]]
* [[Salepur]]
* [[Sisua village]]
* [[Teej]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{commonscatinline}}
{{Odia culture}}

[[Category:Festivals in Odisha]]
[[Category:June observances]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 29 July 2025
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	{{short description\|Festival of Odisha}}		{{short description\|Festival of Odisha}}
	[[File:Raja Doli khela Odia festival.jpg\|thumb\|Raja ~~Doli khela, Odia festival~~]]		[[File:Raja Doli khela Odia festival.jpg\|thumb\|Girls swinging on Raja swing]]
	'''~~Rajo~~''' (~~[[International Phonetic Alphabet\|IPA]]:~~ {{~~IPA~~\|~~/ɾɔd͡ʒɔ/}} {{Lang-~~or\|ରଜ}}~~) or '''Rajo Parba''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet\|IPA]]:~~ {{IPA\|/ɾɔdʒɔ pɔɾbɔ~~/}} {{Lang-or~~\|~~ରଜ ପର୍ବ~~}}), also known as ''Mithuna Sankranti'', is a three-day-long festival of womanhood celebrated in [[Odisha]], India. The second day of the festival signifies beginning of the solar month of Mithuna from, which the season of rains starts.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Four-day Festival of Odisha '~~Rajo~~ Parba' is all about celebrating Womanhood\|url=http://www.newsgram.com/four-day-festival-of-Odisha-rajo-parba-is-all-about-wishing-a-happy-raja-festival-2018}}</ref>		'''Raja Parba''' ({{Langx\|or\|ରଜ ପର୍ବ}}, {{IPA\|or\|ɾɔdʒɔ pɔɾbɔ\|pron}}), also known as ''Mithuna Sankranti'', is a three-day-long festival of womanhood celebrated in [[Odisha]], India. The second day of the festival signifies beginning of the solar month of Mithuna, from which the season of rains starts.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Four-day Festival of Odisha 'Raja Parba' is all about celebrating Womanhood\|url=http://www.newsgram.com/four-day-festival-of-Odisha-rajo-parba-is-all-about-wishing-a-happy-raja-festival-2018}}{{Dead link\|date=July 2025 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

	== Mythology ==		== Mythology ==
	[[File:Jagannatha naya.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|~~Idols~~ of Bhudevi and ~~Shridevi~~ at [[Nayagarh]], below Jagannath (~~dark one~~).]]		[[File:Jagannatha naya.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|''[[Murti]]''s of Bhudevi and Sridevi (Bhumi and Lakshmi) at [[Nayagarh]], below Jagannath (far right).]]
	It is believed that the ~~mother Goddess~~ Earth or the ~~divine wife of Lord~~ [[Vishnu]] ~~undergoes~~ menstruation during the first three days. The fourth day is called ''Vasumati Snana'', or ceremonial bath of ~~[[Bhudevi]]~~. The term Raja came from the Sanskrit word '~~<nowiki/>~~''~~Rajas''<nowiki/>~~' which means menstruation and ~~when~~ a woman ~~menstruates, she~~ is called '''~~Rajaswala~~'~~'<nowiki/>' or a menstruating woman~~, ~~and in medieval times~~ the festival became more popular as an agricultural holiday marking the worship of ~~[[Bhudevi]]~~, who is the ~~wife~~ of ~~lord~~ [[Jagannath]].		It is believed that the Hindu goddess [[Bhumi (goddess)\|Bhumi]], the Mother Earth aspect of goddess [[Lakshmi\|Mahakshmi]] and consort of the [[Vishnu]], experiences menstruation during the first three days of the festival. The fourth day is called ''Vasumati Snana'', or the ceremonial bath of Bhumi. The term Raja came from the Sanskrit word ''rajas,'' which means menstruation, and a menstruating woman is called ''rajasvala''. In the medieval period, the festival became more popular as an agricultural holiday marking the worship of Bhumi, who is venerated as the consort of [[Jagannath]], a regional form of Vishnu. A silver ''murti'' of Bhumi is present in the Puri Temple beside Jagannath.
	A silver ~~idol~~ of ~~[[Bhudevi]]~~ is ~~still to be found~~ in the Puri Temple beside ~~Lord~~ Jagannath .

	==Rajaparba==		==Rajaparba==
	It falls in mid June,<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Sen\|first1=Sushmita\|title=Raja Parba 2016: This 4-day Odiya festival honours womanhood [PICTURE GREETINGS]\|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/raja-parba-2016-this-4-day-odiya-festival-honours-womanhood-picture-greetings-682628\|access-date=4 October 2016\|language=en}}</ref> the first day is called '''Pahili Raja''',<ref>{{cite web\|title=CHECK: RAJA Sankaranti festival 2021 date, Pahili Raja Quotes,Wishes,Shayari Images Online \|url=https://www.pixnama.com/raja-sankranti/\|website=Pixnama.com \|access-date=14 June 2021 }}</ref>		It falls in mid June,<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Sen\|first1=Sushmita\|title=Raja Parba 2016: This 4-day Odiya festival honours womanhood [PICTURE GREETINGS]\|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/raja-parba-2016-this-4-day-odiya-festival-honours-womanhood-picture-greetings-682628\|access-date=4 October 2016\|language=en}}</ref> the first day is called '''Pahili Raja''',<ref>{{cite web \|title=CHECK: RAJA Sankaranti festival 2021 date, Pahili Raja Quotes,Wishes,Shayari Images Online \|url=https://www.pixnama.com/raja-sankranti/ \|website=Pixnama.com \|date=13 April 2021 \|access-date=14 June 2021 \|archive-date=21 June 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621042949/https://www.pixnama.com/raja-sankranti/ \|url-status=dead }}</ref>
	second day is Mithuna Sankranti, third day is '''Bhudaaha''' or '''Basi Raja'''.		second day is Mithuna Sankranti, third day is '''Bhudaaha''' or '''Basi Raja'''.
	The final fourth day is called '''Basumati snana''',		The final fourth day is called '''Basumati snana''',
Line 16:		Line 15:
	The most popular among numerous festivals in Odisha, Raja<ref>{{cite news\|title='Raja Utsav' to be celebrated tomorrow\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/raja-utsav-to-be-celebrated-tomorrow/article1856168.ece\|access-date=29 September 2016\|work=The Hindu\|date=14 June 2007\|language=en-IN}}</ref> is celebrated for three consecutive days. Just as the earth prepares itself to quench its thirst by the incoming rain the unmarried girls of the family are groomed for impending matrimony through this festival. They pass these three days in joyous festivity and observe customs like eating only uncooked and nourishing food especially ''[[Podo pitha\|Podapitha]]'', do not take bath or take salt, do not walk barefoot and vow to give birth to healthy children in future. The most vivid and enjoyable memories one has of the Raja gaiety is the rope-swings on big banyan trees and the lyrical folk-songs that one listens from the nubile beauty enjoying the atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Raja Festival : Odisha's unique fest to raise toast to womanhood & Nature\|url=https://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/raja-festival-odishas-unique-fest-to-raise-toast-to-womanhood-nature-221937\|access-date= 15 June 2017\|work= OdishaTv\|language=en-IN}}</ref>		The most popular among numerous festivals in Odisha, Raja<ref>{{cite news\|title='Raja Utsav' to be celebrated tomorrow\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/raja-utsav-to-be-celebrated-tomorrow/article1856168.ece\|access-date=29 September 2016\|work=The Hindu\|date=14 June 2007\|language=en-IN}}</ref> is celebrated for three consecutive days. Just as the earth prepares itself to quench its thirst by the incoming rain the unmarried girls of the family are groomed for impending matrimony through this festival. They pass these three days in joyous festivity and observe customs like eating only uncooked and nourishing food especially ''[[Podo pitha\|Podapitha]]'', do not take bath or take salt, do not walk barefoot and vow to give birth to healthy children in future. The most vivid and enjoyable memories one has of the Raja gaiety is the rope-swings on big banyan trees and the lyrical folk-songs that one listens from the nubile beauty enjoying the atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Raja Festival : Odisha's unique fest to raise toast to womanhood & Nature\|url=https://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/raja-festival-odishas-unique-fest-to-raise-toast-to-womanhood-nature-221937\|access-date= 15 June 2017\|work= OdishaTv\|language=en-IN}}</ref>

	To celebrate the advent of monsoon, the joyous festival is arranged for ~~three~~ days by the villagers. Though celebrated all over the state it is more enthusiastically observed in all over ~~the~~ Odisha but celebrated with much ~~fervour~~ across the coastal districts. The first day is called "''Pahili Raja''", ~~second~~ is "'''Raja Sankranti'''" <ref>{{cite web\|title=CHECK: RAJA Sankranti Odisha 2021 date, Wishes, Images, Sms {{!}} Pahili Raja,Raja Sankaranti Images Online \|url=https://www.odiasayari.com/raja-sankaranti-odisha/\|website=Odiasayari.com \|access-date=15 June 2021 }}</ref> and ~~third~~ is "''Bhumi Dahana'' or ''Basi Raja''".		To celebrate the advent of monsoon, the joyous festival is arranged for five days by the villagers. Though celebrated all over the state it is more enthusiastically observed in all over Odisha but celebrated with much fervor across the coastal districts. The first day is called "saja baja", second day is called "''Pahili Raja''", third is "'''Raja Sankranti'''"<ref>{{cite web\|title=CHECK: RAJA Sankranti Odisha 2021 date, Wishes, Images, Sms {{!}} Pahili Raja,Raja Sankaranti Images Online \|url=https://www.odiasayari.com/raja-sankaranti-odisha/\|website=Odiasayari.com \|date=12 June 2021 \|access-date=15 June 2021 }}</ref> and fourth is "''Bhumi Dahana'' or ''Basi Raja''". And fifth is Basumati snana

	According to popular belief as women menstruate, which is a sign of fertility, so also Mother Earth menstruates. So all three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. During the festival all agricultural operations remain suspended. As a mark of respect towards the Earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural works comes to a standstill during these days. Significantly, it is a festival of the unmarried girls, the potential mothers. They all observe the restrictions prescribed for a menstruating woman. The very first day, they rise before dawn, do their hair, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and then take the purificatory bath in a river or tank. Peculiarly, bathing for the rest two days is prohibited. They don't walk bare-foot do not scratch the earth, do not grind, do not tear anything apart, do not cut and do not cook. During all the three consecutive days they are seen in the best of dresses and decorations, eating cakes and rich food at the houses of friends and relatives, spending long cheery hours, moving up and down on improvised swings, rending the village sky with their merry impromptu songs.		According to popular belief as women menstruate, which is a sign of fertility, so also Mother Earth menstruates. So, all three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. During the festival, all agricultural operations remain suspended. As a mark of respect towards the Earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural works comes to a standstill during these days. Significantly, it is a festival of the unmarried girls, the potential mothers. They all observe the restrictions prescribed for a menstruating woman. The very first day, they rise before dawn, do their hair, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil and then take the purificatory bath in a river or tank. Peculiarly, bathing for the rest two days is prohibited. They don't walk bare-foot, do not scratch the earth, do not grind, do not tear anything apart, do not cut and do not cook. During all the three consecutive days, they are seen in the best of dresses and decorations, eating cakes and rich food at the houses of friends and relatives, spending long cheery hours, moving up and down on improvised swings, rending the village sky with their merry impromptu songs.

	The swings are of different varieties, such as 'Ram Doli', 'Charki Doli', 'Pata Doli', 'Dandi Doli' etc. Songs specially meant for the festival speak of love, affection, respect, social behaviour and everything of social order that comes to the minds of the singers. Through anonymous and composed extempore, much of these songs, through sheer beauty of diction and sentiment, has earned permanence and has gone to make the very substratum of Odisha's folk-poetry. While girls thus scatter beauty, grace and music all around, moving up and down on the swings during the festival, young men give themselves to strenuous games and good food, on the eve of the onset of the monsoons, which will not give them even a minute's respite for practically four months making them one with mud, slush and relentless showers, their spirits keep high with only the hopes of a good harvest. As all agricultural activities remain suspended and a joyous atmosphere pervades, the young men of the village keep themselves busy in various types of country games, the most favourite being 'Kabadi'. Competitions are also held between different groups of villages. All nights 'Jatra' performances or '[[Gotipua]]' dances are arranged in prosperous villages where they can afford the professional groups. Enthusiastic amateurs also arrange plays and other kinds of entertainment.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Know more about Festivities of Odisha during days of Raja Parba - Bhubaneswar Buzz\|url=http://www.bhubaneswarbuzz.com/updates/festivals/know-festivities-odisha-days-raja-parba\|website=Bhubaneswarbuzz\|access-date=4 October 2016\|date=14 June 2016}}</ref>		The swings are of different varieties, such as 'Ram Doli', 'Charki Doli', 'Pata Doli', 'Dandi Doli' etc. Songs specially meant for the festival speak of love, affection, respect, social behaviour and everything of social order that comes to the minds of the singers. Through anonymous and composed extempore, much of these songs, through sheer beauty of diction and sentiment, has earned permanence and has gone to make the very substratum of Odisha's folk-poetry. While girls thus scatter beauty, grace and music all around, moving up and down on the swings during the festival, young men give themselves to strenuous games and good food, on the eve of the onset of the monsoons, which will not give them even a minute's respite for practically four months making them one with mud, slush and relentless showers, their spirits keep high with only the hopes of a good harvest. As all agricultural activities remain suspended and a joyous atmosphere pervades, the young men of the village keep themselves busy in various types of country games, the most favourite being 'Kabadi'. Competitions are also held between different groups of villages. All nights 'Jatra' performances or '[[Gotipua]]' dances are arranged in prosperous villages where they can afford the professional groups. Enthusiastic amateurs also arrange plays and other kinds of entertainment.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Know more about Festivities of Odisha during days of Raja Parba - Bhubaneswar Buzz\|url=http://www.bhubaneswarbuzz.com/updates/festivals/know-festivities-odisha-days-raja-parba\|website=Bhubaneswarbuzz\|access-date=4 October 2016\|date=14 June 2016}}</ref>