Bhubaneswar, June 11: The city is enjoying the flavour of Raja, the festival that celebrates womanhood, even before the festival is here. In a bid to popularise the ethnic Oriya festival, Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) today launched its five-day Raja carnival on the premises of Pantha Nivas in the city.

From a platter of pithas to the traditional doli or swing, the tourism department has made colourful arrangements for the festival. As soon as one enters the venue, the swings on the lawn remind one of the rural Raja fiesta. Hanging from trees and made of thick jute and coir ropes, these have been decorated with garlands. The hammock-turned-swing has also been installed in the Pantha Nivas lawn.

“Raja is a representation of the culture of our state. But the authentic festivities are limited to rural areas now,” said OTDC chairman Jyotishkar Mohapatra. “By celebrating the festival here, we wish to popularise the festival among members of the younger generation as well as tourists. The games and Oriya food that form a part of Raja have great potential to attract tourists,” he said.

Raja would continue till June 15. It is also on at the Cuttack Pantha Nivas.

“Last year we had organised the festival on the first two days of Raja and we got a brilliant response with more than 800 people turning up. Hence, we made the festival a five-day event this year and we expect around 3,000 visitors this time,” said Alok Mishra, marketing head of the state tourism department.

The OTDC Raja celebration includes a lavish spread of country cakes or pithas such as the poda pitha, fried as well as steamed manda pitha, ghuguni, chakuli pitha, dahi bara, alu dum, mutton kasa and malpua. It also includes special thalis that offer authentic Oriya cuisine. The menu also has betel or paan that is a must for women during Raja. The various dishes are priced between Rs 10 and Rs 150.

“The dishes have been very reasonably priced for the convenience of visitors. We are also accepting parcel and take-away orders by phone calls,” said Mishra.

“It’s good to know that you get all delicacies readymade and with the typical flavours and aroma they are known for. It saves time so women can actually enjoy Raja,” said Anjali, a homemaker who attended the festival with her family.