Image credits Sudarshan Pattnaik
Every year Odisha hosts a three-day festival popularly known as " Raja Parba" to celebrate womanhood and menstruation, it happens during mid-June every year in Odisha."Raja Prarba" is derived from the word Rajaswala meaning menstruating women. It is believed that during these three days mother earth undergoes menstruation, and all the agricultural activities remain suspended. It is said to be the rejuvenation time for mother earth.
Raja Prabha mirrors menstruation process in woman, during this time of the year all unmarried women observe the do's and don'ts that apply during menstruation, dress up in brand new clothes, paint patterns on their foreheads in sandalwood paste and sindoor, and smear a red liquid called alta on their feet.
The first day is called Pahili Raja, second day is Mithuna Sankranti, the third day is Bhu daaha or Basi Raja. The final fourth day is called Vasumati snana, in which the ladies bath the grinding stone as a symbol of Bhumi with turmeric paste and adore with flower, sindoor etc. During the last day, women and young girls do not take part in cooking and spend time playing games, chilling outdoors, and partying.
Festivals are a celebration of love and oneness. Together, everybody feasts on ceremonial food, especially a variety of pithas or rice cakes, such as Podapitha and Raja Paana. Everyone sings, dances, and parties together irrespective of gender, caste, or division. Though the festival has undergone significant changes over time, it still revolves around respecting and celebrating women.
In a country where menstruation is considered a taboo, festivals like Rajaprabha remind us how we should start celebrating and accepting this natural process. Also, we should make sure the love, respect, and freedom which our women enjoy are not limited to this festival or those four days.
This year this festival was conducted from 15 to 18 June
Author
Vidya Radhakrishnan
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