Thread by @AbhinavAT_07

Happy Raja Parba to each and every girl/woman out there🙏🏻 A special festival which celebrates womanhood and menstruation😇.

[A Thread]
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While there are many debates going on whether menstruating woman are discriminated or not in our country.
Here is a festival from Odisha and odias which celebrates menstruation - 'Raja Parba'.
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Raja is taken from the word Rajaswala, which means menstruating women. The people of Odisha believed that during the first three days Bhudevi (Mother Earth), the wife of Lord Jagannath undergoes menstruation and is given a ceremonial bath the fourth day.
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Each day of the festival has its own name and significance – the first day is called Pahili Raja, second day is Mithuna Sankranti, signifying the beginning of solar month of Mithuna i.e., the rainy season, the third day is Bhu Daaha, Bhoomi Dahana or Basi Raja...
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...And the fourth day is called Vasumati Snana.

I am very lucky and proud that my ancestors belong to a state where womanhood is celebrated in such a unique and special way.
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In medieval times the festival was observed as an agricultural holiday, marking the worship of Bhudevi, who is the wife of lord Jagannath. A silver idol of Bhudevi is still to be found in the Puri Temple beside Lord Jagannath.
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In this festival woman are given rest from every household/agricultural/social works. They are treated like Bhudevi herself. They wear new sarees/dress, Alta, ornaments. They are served with different kinds of pithas such as 'Poda Pitha', 'Manda', 'Kakara', 'Arisha'...
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'Chakuli', and 'Chandrakala', etc. And another fascinating aspect of this festival is The Raja Doli or the Raja swing which is one of the main attractions during the festivals. Ornately decorated rope swings with flowers and mango leaves are made where the women & children...
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...swing while singing the festival songs. The swings are of different varieties, such as 'Ram Doli', 'Charki Doli', 'Pata Doli', 'Dandi Doli' etc...
Indoor and outdoor games are also a popular pursuit during Raja.
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Once again I urge everyone to celebrate this pious festival of womanhood and fertility with utmost priority and humbleness🙏🏻😇

Thankyou.

#RajaParba #menstuation #womanhood #odisha #rajasankranti #odia #festival #fertility #hindu #raja

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Plz RT🙏🏻😇