Raja festival in Odisha 2025 Date: Know dates for Pahili Raja, Raja Sankranti
Posted on May 25, 2025
Raja (pronounced raw-jaw) is a popular three-day festival celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm across Odisha, especially in rural areas.
It usually takes place in mid-June, during the onset of the monsoon season. The festival honours womanhood, fertility, and the earth’s ability to reproduce, symbolising both menstruation and agricultural fertility.
Raja Festival in Odisha 2025 Date
Pahili Raja: June 14, Saturday.
Raja Sankranti: June 15, Sunday.
Basi Raja: June 16, Monday.
Significance
The word “Raja” comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Rajaswala’, which means a menstruating woman. The festival is believed to be the time when Mother Earth (Bhuma Devi) undergoes her menstrual cycle and is given rest for three days. Just as women are encouraged to rest during menstruation, the land too is not ploughed or disturbed during these days.
Raja is also closely associated with unmarried girls and celebrates their beauty, vitality, and the promise of motherhood. It’s seen as a time of transition and renewal, both for nature and for young women.
Duration and Days
The festival spans three main days, with some traditions including a fourth:
1. Pahili Raja – The first day, marking the beginning of the celebrations.
2. Raja Sankranti – The second day, considered the most important, coincides with the solar transition (Mithuna Sankranti).
3. Basi Raja – The third day.
4. Vasumati Snana – On the fourth day (optional in some areas), women give the grinding stone (symbol of Mother Earth) a ceremonial bath with turmeric and flowers.
Traditions and Celebrations
Swings (Doli): Decorated swings are tied to trees, and girls in colourful attire take turns swinging, singing folk songs.
New Clothes and Alata: Girls wear new dresses, apply alata (red dye) to their feet, and adorn themselves with bangles and flowers.
Traditional Food: Special pithas (rice cakes) like podapitha, manda pitha, and chakuli are prepared at home.
No Work, Only Fun: Ploughing and other farming activities are avoided. Women also take a break from household chores.
Games and Gatherings: Folk games, dance, and music bring communities together.
Cultural Impact
Raja is more than just a festival—it’s a cultural expression that highlights respect for womanhood, agricultural rhythms, and environmental harmony. It empowers girls by giving them space to be celebrated and cherished in society.
In urban areas today, while traditional practices may be simplified, the spirit of Raja continues through cultural events, food festivals, and community gatherings.