Odisha’s famous Raj Parv, dedicated to soil, is celebrated every year on June 14 with great enthusiasm and traditional gaiety. At the core of this festival is the folk belief that Mother Earth menstruates on this day—that is, she too goes through the same purification and creation cycle that women go through. This festival has become a collective celebration of nature’s fertility, the arrival of monsoon and the dignity of womanhood.
Each day of this three-day festival holds special significance—the first day is called ‘Rajo’, the second is called ‘Mithun Sankranti’, and the third day is called ‘Bhudaha’ or ‘Basi Raj’.
This festival is mainly for young women and adolescents, who wear new clothes, adorn themselves, swing with friends and establish a connection with nature through joyful folk songs. The tradition of rope swings especially hung on Banyan trees is the soul of this festival. However, now due to the absence of trees in urban settings, the practice of hanging swings on pipes or wooden sticks and decorating them with flowers has also become popular.
Traditional dishes, especially Podapitha, are the gustatory side of this festival. It is cooked and eaten with great love, and it connects generations to their cultural roots.
The memories of this festival are still deeply embedded in the minds of the people. Like this morning, while mopping the floor, my maid suddenly said, “Didi, when I was fourteen-fifteen years old, I used to go to my elder sister’s house in Chaudwar village near Cuttack. There, swings were put up on mango trees. Pitha was hung high on one branch, and on the other branch there was a rope swing. We would increase the height of the swing, go up to the top and eat the Pitha by jumping with our mouths, because we were holding the rope with our hands. The people of the village would watch the spectacle to see who would be able to reach such a height. When I succeeded, everyone would clap.
What days were those childhood days—swinging, eating Pitha, roaming around, dressing up, and laughing and joking… life was filled with colors. Elder sister and brother-in-law were afraid that I might fall, but I was slim and nimble and I would reach the Pitha. Now when I think about it, everything seems like a dream. It seems that only memories are left. Day after tomorrow is Raj Parv, so I remembered everything again. Now I have to send stuff to my daughter and granddaughter’s in-laws’ house.” While saying this, she started cleaning the floor quietly again – but the glow of childhood memories was still clearly visible in her eyes. I have also preserved this intimate memory journey of hers in a small recording. You also listen to it… maybe this touch of Raj Parv will also touch you deeply. Pushpa Singhi, Cuttack