Raja Parba (3-day women's festival celebrating Bhumi Devi)
Bhumi Devi (Mother Earth as consort of Lord Jagannath)
Jagannath / OdiaGet a reminder before the next Raja Parba (3-day women's festival celebrating Bhumi Devi)
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Raja Parba — the 4-day Odia festival celebrating Bhumi Devi's annual menstruation. Women take complete rest from all work, swing on tree-swings, sing Raja-geet, and share poda pitha. A unique celebration of menstruation as sacred renewal.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
ॐ भूम्यै नमः।
Om Bhumyai namah
Salutations to Bhumi Devi — Mother Earth, consort of Lord Jagannath, in Her menstrual rest.
How to recite
Raja Parba is a 4-day festival celebrating Bhumi Devi's annual menstruation and renewal. Day 1 (Pahili Raja) — preparation; Day 2 (Mithuna Sankranti / Raja Sankranti) — the actual menstrual day, no farming, no cooking; Day 3 (Bhui Daha / Basi Raja) — Earth at rest; Day 4 (Basumati Snana) — Bhumi's ritual bath, marking renewal. Women take a complete rest from work, dress in new clothes, swing on rope-swings tied from trees, sing Raja-geet folk songs, and eat poda pitha. Stone grinding mills (sila-puas) are oiled and decorated; no digging, no walking barefoot on earth.
Benefits
Raja Parba is one of the world's most significant religious celebrations of menstruation — honouring Mother Earth's fertility cycle as sacred and giving women rest. The festival's central message is the dignity and divinity of women's bodies.
✦ Special Note
Per Odia panchang. Mithuna Sankranti is fixed — June 15. Raja Parba runs Pahili Raja (Jun 14), Mithuna Sankranti (Jun 15), Bhui Daha (Jun 16), Basumati Snana (Jun 17) in both 2026 and 2027.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Poda Pitha (baked sweet rice cake), manda pitha, arisha pitha, kakara pitha, fresh chhena and coconut sweets — eaten cold, no fresh stove cooking on Raja days.
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At 7pm the evening before, each time it comes around. Turn it off anytime.
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