Raja Sankranti: A Monsoon Festival Enjoyed by Women Folk

Raja Sankranti is a monsoon festival celebrated in Orissa, on the onset of first monsoon when for three days there will be no agricultural activities, symbolic to mansustrial period of women. Women farmers enjoy in Raja Sankranti by not touching any kind of domestic activities, but simple having entertainment for three days.

Raja Sankranti is eagerly awaited by young unmarried girls for the whole year, so that they can celebrate the Raja Sankranti with full gaiety and enthusiasm with their friends and relatives symbolizing the virginity. That means no one has touched her and she is pious. They compare with the mother earth which also takes rest for three days on the first drops of monsoon, and the mother earth becomes fertile.

Raja is celebrated with of cheerfulness and with purity. Every year this festival is organized on the 13th day of the bright fortnight in the Jayeshtha month of the Hindu calendar. Young girls make merriment on all the three days, they wear new dress, play swings whole day without putting their feet on the ground, prepare Rice cake and sweet meat.

During the Raja Sankranti young girls chew Pans(betel leaves) play swings from dawn to or dusk. Sing songs about the mother earth and spend their three days only in merriment.

At community level they organize dance dramas, fests and also fairs. For this children and young girls purchase colourful dress and participate with full fun and frolic and with bursting enthusiasm take part in the entertainment programs. Every day early in the morning and in evening they do the rehearsals, so that they perform their best in the community festival.

It is worth seeing this enthusiasm of these young girls in the preparation for the Raja Sankranti . Since most of the schools and collages remain closed for summer holidays and for these young girls don't have any restriction in spending time in the preparation for Raja Sankranti . In fact Raja is the beginning of festival seasons; therefore the interest of young girls is note worth, which can't be described in a short article.

As described earlier that Rajo marks the beginning of monsoon as well as other festivals which follows soon after Raja. Shortly after Raja festival people of Orissa with full gaiety and devotion welcome World famous Jagganth Rath jaytra followed by Ganesh pooja etc.

Therefore mother earth and the young girls of Orissa eagerly wait for the Raja Sankranti (Raja festival), with pomp and cheerfulness they enjoy Raja. Raja has a very significant importance in Oriya culture and tradition. Raja is one of the festivals totally devoted to young girls. So Raja exhibit vibrant youthful energy.