In Odisha, the arrival of the vibrant and joyous Raja Festival (pronounced raw-jaw) is celebrated with unmatched enthusiasm and deep cultural pride. While most people are familiar with Pahili Raja, Raja Sankranti, and Basi Raja, it's the day before all the festivities — Raja Sajabaja — that truly sets the tone for the celebration.
What is Raja Sajabaja?
In Odia, Sajabaja literally means "decoration and preparation." Observed a day before Pahili Raja, this day is dedicated to getting ready for the upcoming three-day festival that celebrates womanhood, fertility, and the onset of the monsoon.
Raja Sajabaja is a day filled with vibrant activity across Odia households, especially among women and young girls. Homes are cleaned and decorated, traditional delicacies are prepared, and new clothes, bangles, and accessories are brought out in anticipation of the days ahead.
To understand how the celebration is evolving, Prameya English spoke to several women in rural Odisha about their Raja preparations and how the spirit of the festival continues today.
The changing face of tradition
Rajalaxmi Baral from Puri reflects on how the celebration has changed over the years.
"The excitement of Raja is still very much alive in villages, but the way we celebrate has definitely changed," she says.
"Earlier, we all used to gather in one place and get ready together. We'd help each other apply mehendi, alata, and use different cosmetics. We even decorated the kids! But now, beauty parlors have become the go-to place. Girls are opting for facials, bleaching, and hairstyling, and parlors are offering festive discounts — some offering 15%, others up to 30%. Girls now go in groups to parlors to take advantage of these offers."
Ananya from Cuttack adds, "For me, applying mehendi is the best part of Raja. In my village, the girls who are good at applying mehendi are in high demand. These days, long queues of girls can be seen at market complexes where professional mehendi artists sit with sample cards. You choose your design, and within minutes, they beautifully apply it. It's become a whole new experience."
Chinmayee from Banki shares her deep emotional connection to Raja: "Raja is my favorite festival because it's celebrated for three whole days. I study in Bhubaneswar, but I make sure to return to my village for Raja every year. The joy of eating poda pitha and other sweets together before sunset with friends is something I look forward to the most."
She continues, "In cities like Bhubaneswar, there are various events organized for Raja, but they lack the authentic village vibe. For me, Sajabaja is the only time I enjoy applying alata on my feet and mehendi on my hands. Nothing compares to celebrating Raja in the village."
Keeping the spirit alive
While modernization has changed some customs, the spirit of Raja remains strong — especially in the hearts of young women who cherish both tradition and celebration. Raja Sajabaja continues to be a beautiful reminder of the cultural roots and joyful anticipation that make this festival so unique and cherished in Odisha.
