Odia Culture - Blog Posts

Me reading this during my own periods

ରଜ ପର୍ବ / रज पर्व 🏵️

When Odisha Celebrates Periods, Womanhood, and Mother Earth

In a world where menstruation is still whispered about, hidden, and stigmatized, there's a corner of India that doesn’t shy away from it—but celebrates it. Raja Parba is a vibrant, feminine festival that puts periods at the heart of its rituals.

🌿 What is Raja Parba?

Raja Parba (or Mithuna Sankranti) is a three-day festival observed in Odisha, celebrating the menstruation of Bhudevi (Mother Earth) during mid-june. Just as women menstruate, it is believed that the Earth, too, undergoes her cycle of fertility and rejuvenation during this time.

The word "Raja" comes from the Sanskrit "Rajaswala", meaning a menstruating woman. So, yes, this entire celebration is rooted in menstrual cycles, feminine energy, and the sacred power of creation.

During Raja, both Mother Earth and women are allowed to rest, rejuvenate, and be celebrated—not hidden away or seen as impure.

🗓️ The Rituals of Raja: A Celebration in Three Acts

Pahili Raja (The First Day): The festival begins with vibrant energy. Girls and women wear new clothes, apply alta (a red dye) to their feet, and enjoy sweet treats. They don’t do household chores—instead, they’re encouraged to rest, relax, and revel in their power. Swings are hung from trees, and laughter fills the air.

Raja Sankranti (The Second Day): The highlight of the festival, this marks the first day of the solar month of Mithuna, symbolizing the beginning of the agricultural season. But more than that, it’s a celebration of fertility, growth, and the divine feminine.

Basi Raja (The Third Day): On this day, the celebrations mellow, but the warmth remains. Traditional games are played, and women are pampered with gifts and love.

Vasumati Snana (Optional Fourth Day): Some observe a fourth day known as Vasumati Snana, where the symbolic bathing of the Earth takes place. Grinding stones used in kitchens are washed and worshipped as a representation of Bhudevi.

Raja isn’t just rituals—it’s joy, flavor, and festivity. Special dishes like Poda Pitha (a caramelized rice cake) are made in every home. Girls spend time on beautifully decorated wooden swings, singing Raja songs that speak of love, seasons, and womanhood. Families come together, and the mood is unapologetically celebratory.

In many parts of the world where menstruation is still treated as taboo, something unclean, to be kept secret. But Raja Parba defies that narrative.

Here, menstruation isn’t just acknowledged—it’s celebrated as sacred. Women are not banished but pampered. The Earth is not seen as impure during her cycle but divine and deserving of rest. While rooted in ancient beliefs, the festival also aligns with modern conversations about bodily autonomy, menstrual dignity, and gendered traditions. It offers a regional example of how periods have historically been recognized without stigma in certain cultural contexts.