"RAJA PARBA" ( THE FESTIVAL OF "RAJA", THE WOMANHOOD AND FERTILITY ) WISHES
Dear Readers,
From today, for 3-days, the 14th June to 16th
June ( The Previous Day of "Mithun Sankranti to its next day in the
Indian month of "Jyestha", the "Raja Praba"( The
Festival of "Raja" ) is being celebrated in the State of Odisha as a
grand festival in the households throughout the State.
This
is a Festival less publicised outside Odisha, but a very Interesting
Festival, it has the Unique Theme, that is most Honourable to be
Respected.
This
"Raja Parba" is Uniquely Dedicated to "Womanhood", the Ladies,
considering the "Mother Earth" as equivalent of a "Woman", a Lady, while
considering the Fertility of the Earth to give Good Production of
Agricultural Produce for the mankind to survive with foods, in
comparison with the attaining of the "Puberty" that is " Attaining
Fertility to be able to Reproduce", that is the "Womanhood" of a Lady to
be most Honoured and Respected. The "Raja Parba" is thus dedicated to
the Womanhood of the Mother Earth, and the Womanhood of the "Mother
Earth" is Worshiped through this Festival along with Rain God for a Good
Agricultural Production, through Honourning and Respecting the Ladies
as the medium "being in Period of 3-days", during this Festival of
3-days as if the "Mother Earth" is in her "Period of 3-days".
The
word Raja is originally drawn from Sanskrit Literature word "Rajas"
which means "Menstruation" of the Women. The Menstruation of Women is
well known, it is primarily the sign of a Woman being able to reproduce
after a certain period is passed. Scientifically also, it is a
normal biological process of the Women who are in their "Fertility Age".
Thus the Unique Theme of this "Raja Parba" ( The Festival of Raja ) is
Celebrating the Fertility of the Mother Earth to give Good Agricultural
Produce. It is celebrated exactly at a time, always around the Mid-June
for 3-days, when the monsoon would be arriving or offing to rain that
is the sign of moving for Agricultural Production.
This Festival is named and divided into 3-days as follows:
1. Pahili Raja ( The First Day of Raja )
2. Raja Sankranti ( The Second Day of Raja ) ... that is the Mithun Sankranti
3. Basi Raja ( The 3rd Day of Raja or the End/Last Day of Raja )
As
I said, in this Festival, it is celebrated as the "Mother Earth" in her
Fertility period of 3-days to give a Good Agricultural Production. And
similarly the Women during this period are Considered as equivalent of
the "Mother Earth" and the rituals are performed traditionally in India,
akin to a Lady in her Period of 3-days.
During
this Festival, the Ladies Celebrate a lot, it is celebration of their
Womanhood. They are most Honoured. Respected and Cared For during this
Festival. They Dress themselves well, get seated in hanging Swings and
celebrate and enjoy also in groups. Lot of Traditional Cakes are made in
the household and eaten all around. The Speciality Cake of Raja Parba
is "Poda Pitha" ( The Burnt Cake ) prepared in all the Households
without fail.
In
many households who observe this festival most traditionally, even the
Ladies do not Cook during this Festival of 3-days, it is the men who
Cook during these 3-days of the Festival. It is the men who do most of
the household work, and the ladies are supposed to resting as
celebrating these 3-days. The ladies do not walk bare foot on Earth as a
Respect to the "Mother Earth" in her period of 3-days, it is something a
great tradition during this festival.
This
is such a nice Festival, totally dedicated to the Women (Ladies) in
their Honour and Respect as the "Source of LIfe and its Survival" as the
Mother Earth is Honoured and Respected by giving a Good Production of
Agriculture.
During this Festival of 3-days, all Agricultural Activities are suspended, the Soil is not even ploughed in Agricultural Fields, honouring and respecting that the "Mother Earth" is in her Period of 3-days to be given due rest.
This Raja Parba draws heavily from the Indian Culture and Traditions.
BEST WISHES TO ALL AND EVERYONE ON "RAJA PARBA" ( THE FESTIVAL OF "RAJA", THE WOMANHOOD AND FERTILITY )
With Best regards,
Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal,
Mumbai, India
About the Author: Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology), M.B.A. and Ph.D.(Management Area ) by qualifications; and he has 38+ years of work experience in both industrial and development sectors in diversified fields of social importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University (with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad). He is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organizations in Senior/Top Management Capacities at Board level as well as Managing Director and CEO. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in industrial sectors, management in agriculture and dairy, development management to management of public systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He lives at Mumbai in India.
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