Pune to celebrate Odisha's Raja tradition with classical dances, message of menstrual hygiene

Indian Express

a day ago

Since ancient times in Odisha, the first showers of the monsoon have marked the beginning of a festival that celebrates Mother Earth's menstruation and her preparation for motherhood. It was called Raja, from the term Rajaswala, and marked the time when the earth becomes fertile and can receive seeds that will yield a rich harvest.
'During this period, girls are treated like queens. They adorn themselves in traditional outfits, enjoy swings, indulge in delicacies, such as poda pitha and chenna poda, and participate in cultural activities. The festival subtly spreads awareness about menstrual hygiene through traditional practices, including the consumption of cooling foods, such as Raja paan,' says Nikshita Sarangi, an Odissi dancer and trustee of the Pune-based Kalinga Kala Kendra Trust.
On June 15, the Kalinga Kala Kendra Trust will celebrate the power of menstruation and the essence of motherhood through an elaborate display of Indian classical dances. Raja Mahotsav 2025 will feature nine classical dances — Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, sattriya, Odissi and Gaudiya Nritya.
'In olden times, Raja used to be a four-day rest period for Mother Earth when people would not burden the earth with loud sounds, step on her with heavy footwear or put too much pressure on her. Young, unmarried girls were given rest from household chores. Neighbors invite girls to their homes. But, how do we know that Mother Earth is menstruating? It is said that an elephant trumpets at the time, signaling the onset of rainfall when the earth becomes soft,' says Sarangi. Hence, the highlight of the festival will be the famous Odissi dance piece, Banaste Dakila Gaja (An elephant is trumpeting in the forest), which has, traditionally been a part of Raja celebrations. This will be performed by Swagatika Mahapatra, Rashmita Prasad, Smita Das and Arunima Mohanty with disciples of Odissi dancer Madhumita Mishra.
The nine classical dances come together in a series, Nritya Navratna. The performers cover a cross-section of India, from Odissi dancer Pujayita Bhattacharya being from Odisha, Gaudiya Nritya performer Paulomi Sakhalkar coming from West Bengal, Suja Dinkar of Kerala showcasing Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi by Dhanya Menon of Andhra Pradesh, Kathak by Mausumi Roy Dev of Uttar Pradesh, Kathakali by Paromita Mukherjee of Kerala, Manipuri by Sumana Chatterjee of Manipur, Sattriya by Yosha Roy of Assam and Bharatanatyam by Priya Bhattacharya of Tamil Nadu. The event will also feature a folk dance of Odisha, Rangabati.
'Every element of Raja will be on stage, from the jhula to the traditional foods of the festival. Swinging on a jhula has been associated with Raja as it empowers women to feel free to explore the world, and be in a happy mood. Healthy hormones ensure a healthy menstrual cycle and healthy motherhood for the future,' says Sarangi.
The event will crown all the dancers 'as all the performers of Raja Mahotsav are queens'. 'We will also be talking about Operating Sindoor on stage,' says Sarangi.
Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More