With Raja festivities kicking off on Thursday, it is time for women to get pampered. The festival, which celebrates Mother Earth's fertility and the spirit of womanhood, ensures that women get a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of their lives and pamper themselves. Apart from the twin cities, the festival is being celebrated across the state, including Puri, Paradip, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Baripada, Bhadrak and Balasore. The Telegraph takes a look into the festivities
Rituals
Beautifully decorated rope swings have been hung from trees at various localities in the city. Also, hammocks were set up on verandahs and balconies. The folk song for the occasion - Barasaku thare asichhi Raja - played at various places, adding music to the festival. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion. Naveen took to Twitter and wished girls and women of the state to celebrate the festival with fervour and gaiety. Girls were seen applying alata and played the traditional game puchhi.
Dishes
What is in a Raja festival without the traditional pitha (pancakes)! Girls were seen gorging on various types of pithas such as arisha, kakara, karanji, poda, bhaja and sijha manda, most of which were made at homes. These pithas have been made in the traditional manner using handmade ingredients. A number of sweet shops in the city have made typical Odia sweetmeats. In the platter are chena poda, rasabali, Pahala rasagolla and chena jhili. "Raja is the time to celebrate traditionalism. In sync with the traditions, we have made added some items for the festival. The response has been really good," said Sisir Parija, owner of a sweet shop at Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar.
Flavours of paan
Chewing paan is a ritual during the three-day festival. Chocolate, strawberry, butterscotch and black currant flavours made paans (betel leaf) tastier. Makeshift kiosks mushroomed all over the city and made brisk business during Raja. Arrangements for special tobacco-free Banarasi paans have also been made at a number of hotels across Bhubaneswar.
Fire paan and chuski paan are the flavours of the season, feel sellers. A number of paan seller are providing home delivery services this year.
Ramakanta Senapati, owner of Banarasi Paan Bhandar at Saheed Nagar, said: "We can deliver the paans within four hours of an order being placed. It would help people avoid the rush at the paan shops."
Events
Women tourists, irrespective of age, were seen enjoying the festival with the girls at the Raja Mahotsav, organised by the Odisha Tourist Guide Association on the foothills of the Dhauli peace pagoda. Visitors, including foreign tourists, were seen applying alata and sampling various types of pithas (pan cakes). The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation is also hosting the Raja Mahotsav at Panthanivas here. A number of cultural organisations are holding events for women such as pitha-making competitions, dance and music events. Women took part in many competitions such as mehendi and pitha-making contests organised by various ladies' forums.
Movie time
Two Odia films hit the screens this Raja season. Starring Sabyasachi Mishra, Akash Dasnayak, Kuna Tripathy and Papu Pom Pom, the film 4 Idiots have hit the screens. Also, Sundergarh Ra Salman Khan with Babushan and debutant Divya in lead roles released on Thursday. Women of various ages were seen thronging the cinemas.
