Raja Parba(ରଜ ପର୍ବ) : The Festival of Swings(Doli)

Namaskar ,
Update: ରଜ ପର୍ବ (Raja Festival) on 14 th Jun 2021.

Festivals of any state reflect the culture, tradition and history of the people. Festivals in India are mostly associated with seasonal phases of the sun, the moon, birth of divinities and agricultural operations. Legends have grown connecting these festivals with mythological events recorded in the Puranas and other religious literatures. They intend to inspire faith and virtuous life among the people as a result of which religious impact pervades the celebration or observance of all the festivals.

Though festivals are deeply associated with religion (faith), the main purpose seems to be recreational. They mitigate the monotony of life. Man and women tired of hard routine work need change or relaxation which festivals provide. Thus festivals promote a common cause, develop social solidarity, fellow feeling and mutual co-operation. They also instill self discipline and emphasize the spiritual value of human existence besides providing enjoyment and recreation.

In ancient days most of the celebrations were agricultural in their basic character having festivals mostly related to various agricultural operations. People thought certain divine powers were associated with various aspects of human life and festivals were scheduled in honor of Gods and Goddesses, who were supposed to control agricultural operations. The tradition of such festivals have also come down to the people of Odisha in the form of Raja-Sankranti(swing-festival), Akhayatrutiya, Gamha-purnima, Manabasa-gurubara, Nuakhai etc.

Raja is an agriculture oriented festival, mostly observed in the coastal districts of Odisha for three days. The last day of month "Jestha" is known as "Pahili Raja" and the first day of month "Asadha" is Raja Sankranti (Mithuna Sankranti) from which rainy season starts. It also inaugurates the agricultural year all over Odisha which marks the moistening of summer parched soil with the first shower of monsoon making it ready for productivity. The second day of "Asadha" is known as "Bhuin Dahana". To celebrate the advent of monsoon the joyous festival is arranged for three days. Even in some places of Odisha the fourth day of Raja festival is also celebrated in the name of "Basumata Puja". During this festival Mother Earth or "Basu Mata" is considered to be a menstruating woman. Hence digging of soil or tempering it in any way is strictly prohibited. The Mother Earth is said to undergo pollution due to menstruation and given rest just like a woman imposed with several restrictions.

Raja is also considered as one of the chief festivals of unmarried girls or the potential mothers. The women folk, especially the virgins, forbid all kinds of manual works during these three days of Raja-festival. They don't carry water, cut vegetables, sweep the houses, sew clothes, grind grains, comb hair, walk in bare foot etc. So, all kind of restrictions are imposed both for the land and the women-folk.

Although Raja Sankranti is celebrated all over Odisha, it is more enthusiastically observed in the coastal districts of the State. The unmarried girls or virgins observe the restrictions prescribed for a menstruating woman. On the first day of Raja Sankranti they rise before the dawn, do their coiffure, anoint their bodies with turmeric paste and oil, then take the purification bath in the river or tank. Bathing for rest two days of the festival is strictly prohibited. During these three days girls are seen in the best of their dresses and decorations, eating cakes and rich food at the houses of friends and relatives. They move up and down in the swings rending the village sky with their joyous impromptu songs. The swings are tied to the branches of

Mango or Banyan trees and decorated with garlands of different flowers. The virgins of the village gather there on this festive occasion and one of them is elected as Dolo-rani (queen of the swing). When the queen takes her seat on the swing, the virgins move her forward and backward with chorus of charming songs. These songs are full of jolly spirit of girl-hood days and refer to glorious future, happy love and would be marriage with suitable husbands.

Special varieties of cake prepared out of recipes like rice-powder, molasses,coconut,camphor, ghee etc goes in the name of Podapitha (burnt-cake ). The size of the cake varies according to the number of family members. Cakes are also exchanged among relatives and friends. Young girls do not take rice during this festival and sustain only with different types of cake, fried rice (mudhi) and vegetable curry. While girls scatter beauty, music all round moving up and down on the swings (Doli)during this festival, young men give themselves busy in various types of country games including Kabadi,Taash(Playing Card) competition. While 'Yatras' and 'Gotipua' dances are arranged at night in prosperous villages; plays and other entertainment programs are also conducted by amateur artists in relatively less prosperous places. 

*Special thanks to

--> Pravukalyan Mohapatra

Source from following sites...

http://www.orissa.gov.in/

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/06/pahili-raja-festival-in-orissa.html

http://oriyanari.com/id4.html

http://www.odiasahitya.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja

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