Bhubaneswar, June 16: Women of all ages came out in large numbers to celebrate the three-day Raja festival that concluded today.

The folk song - Barasaku thare asichhi Raja - echoed at various places marking the festival dedicated to womanhood. Villages in the vicinity of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar hung swings decorated with flowers from trees, while city residents hung hammocks on balconies. Swings form a major part of the festival, and the colourful décor caught the fancy of local residents.

Young girls, decked up in new dresses and jewellery, engaged in traditional games such as puchhi and kowdi. "The festival was an opportunity for us to take a break from household chores and pamper ourselves with good food and gorgeous attires," said college girl Prachi Patnaik.

The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation also organised a Raja Mahotsav at Panthanivas in Bhubaneswar where they hosted a festival of authentic Odia pithas. Private hotels in the city also hosted food festivals.

Odias in New Delhi also celebrated the festival with grandeur. Social forum The Intellects hosted the fourth Prabashi Raja Mahotsav at Siri Fort auditorium on June 12. The event saw Odia people from across Delhi taking part. Competitions, including pitha and pana making, were held.

Students of Asa Sikhiba Amari Bhasa staged a dramatic presentation - "Ame Odia: a poetic feature story on past leaders of Odia Diaspora". Singers Anindita Das, Kaveri Behera and Madhusmita Lenka lent their voices to traditional Odia songs, while the Bargarh Dhanu yatra team staged the epic Kansa's Vadh scene.

"This was an opportunity for all of us to gather and celebrate our state's popular festival. I may not remember the traditions of the festival, but I always wait for Raja as it celebrates the fertility of Mother Earth," said 25-year-old Pallavi Nayak, who attended the festival.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday greeed those celebrating the festival. Modi tweeted: "On the special festival of Raja Parba, my greetings to the people of Odisha. May this festival enhance the spirit of joy in our society." Naveen, in his tweet, said: "Heartiest greetings on Raja Parba, a unique festival to celebrate mother earth and spirit of womanhood".

Other places such as Puri, Paradip, Berhampur and Keonjhar also celebrated the festival.