Raja- A Festival of Womanhood

Where menstruation is considered still a taboo in many parts of the country, do you know there's a festival totally devoted to menstruation? No, it's not the Ambubachi festival, which is indeed a divine celebration of fertility. There's another festival called ‘Raja’ observed in my motherland, Odisha. Raja is the celebration of womanhood and nature celebrated with fun and enjoyment. The word ‘Raja’ comes from the Sanskrit word, ‘rajas’ meaning menstruation. A menstruating woman is a sign of fertility. Similarly the earth is believed to menstruate before it becomes ready for the farming or the productivity of crops. Raja is celebrated just before the monsoon season thus welcoming the rain to shower upon earth and nourish it.

What's the story behind Raja?

As the tale unfolds it says that Lord Jagannath’s wife Bhudevi goes through menstruation for three days once every year. Bhudevi is the mother earth herself. In Odisha, during this period every other operation on land is forbidden in the honor of Mother Earth or Bhudevi. She is a ‘rajaswala’ (menstruating) woman, so no agricultural activities take place for Mother Earth to take rest.

How is the festival celebrated?

Raja is a 3-day festival that is observed around mid-june of the year. The very first day is called ‘Pahili Raja’. Second day is known as ‘Raja Sankranti’ or ‘Mithuna Sankranti’; and the third day is called ‘Bhuin dahana’ or ‘Baasi Raja’. Odia women, especially unmarried girls and women expecting their babies observe this day by taking rest from work; they do not put their bare feet on land as matter of respect to Earth; instead adorn themselves by wearing new saree and new dress, paint their feet with alata (a red dye), mehndi (henna) on palms, and tika/tikili (a decorative mark) on forehead, groom their hair with flowers and gajra. The girls play games like ‘Puchi Khela’, ‘Cards’, ‘Ludo’, and have fun. Wooden or rope swings are decorated with leaves and flowers for them to swing on.

Several folk songs are sung in chorus such as “Banaste daakila gaja, barasake thare aasichi raja; Aasichi raja lo gheni nua saja baja” “Raja doli kata kata; mo bhai mundare suna mukuta, suna mukuta lo disuthae jhatajhata”.

No one can resist the diffused aroma of delicacies like ‘Mitha Pana’(sweet betel), ‘Raja Pana’ (a special drink) and Lord Jagannath's favourite ‘Poda Pitha’ (sweet rice cake) that is spread over every home.

After the festival is celebrated, on the fourth day, Bhudevi (mother earth) takes a bath and thus the day's called ‘Basumati Snana’.

Some parts of Odisha include it making a 4 to 5 day festival where in addition to the above three days, two more days are significant as well.

Fourth day is the day of ‘Basumati Snana’ where women bathe the ‘Shila’ (grinding stone) as the representative of ‘Bhumi’ or ‘Bhudevi' with turmeric paste on it; worship it by applying sindoor, showering flowers on it. Some even offer fruits and homemade sweets to the earth.

Those who observe the fifth day as well - it is the day before the festival, called ‘Sajabaja’ (preparatory day) when the house and the kitchen is cleaned, preparations for the festival are made.

Significance of the festival

While women remain busy working all over the year, this festival reminds them to pause for a moment, relax, and embrace themselves truly; to take care of the ‘Nature’ - nature that represents their true inner essence as well as our dear Mother Earth who takes care of all, needs care too.