CUTTACK: It's that time of the year when the air is filled with the aroma of pithas, beautifully decorated jhulas(swings) adorn households and young girls dressed in their best enjoy a gala time. The three-day Raja festival began with much fanfare across the state on Thursday.
The agrarian festival, which is celebrated mostly in the coastal districts, also holds significance for girls as it celebrates womanhood. Adolescent girls wear new outfits and spend the day savouring pithas and Raja paan(betel). In a nod to tradition, they also sit on swings and take part in games such as puchi.
Looking at the rising demand of pithas, many restaurants in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have opened special counters to sell the snack. Cashing in on the opportunity, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation has also opened special counters at Pantha Niwas hotels to sell pithas, including the Raja-special podapitha.
"Due to lack of time and expertise, many women are not able to make pithas at home. To cater to their needs, we have opened counters to sell pithas," said A K Rout, a salesman at Pantha Niwas.
Many social and cultural organizations in the twin cities have organized pitha-making and doli-playing competition. "Raja celebrates earth's fertility and the onset of womanhood. During these three days, we are pampered like queens in our houses. I just love the festival," said Smita Das, a banker.