Raja Sankranti 2023: Date, History, Significance

Raja Sankranti 2023: Raja Sankranti is the second day of the three-day Raja Parba festival, which is celebrated with considerable pomp and circumstance in the Indian state of Odisha. The festival, also known as Mithuna Sankranti, is a celebration of femininity. From June 14 to June 16, 2023, Raja Parba will be observed. This implies that Raja Sankranti will be celebrated on June 15, 2023, the second day of Raja Parba.

Raja Sankranti, which occurs on the second day, marks the commencement of the solar month of Mithuna, from which the rainy season begins. According to religious beliefs, the mother Goddess Earth (the divine consort of Lord Vishnu) menstruates for three days. The fourth day is known as Vasumati Snana, or the ablution of Bhudevi. As we commemorate Raja Sankranti 2023, here is everything you need to know about its date, significance, and history.

Raja Sankranti 2023: Date

Raja Sankranti 2023 will take place on Thursday, June 15.

History

All agricultural activities are suspended during the Raja Parba festival. As a sign of respect for the Earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural labour ceases during these times. Raja Sankranti is a three-day agricultural celebration observed primarily in the littoral districts of Orissa. The first day of the month Jestha (summer) is known as Pahili Raja and is also the last day of the month. The second day is Raja Sankranti, the first day of Asadha (the monsoons), and the third day is commonly referred to as Sesa Raja. With the first monsoon rainfall, Raja Sankranti signifies the beginning of the agricultural year in Orissa. The first day is referred to as “Pahili Raja,” the second as “Raja Sankranti,” and the third as “Bhumi Dahana” or “Basi Raja.” In some regions, the festival spans four days, the fourth of which is Basumata Puja.

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Raja Sankranti Significance

In the hearts of the Odia people, the Raja Sankranti festival bears great significance. The celebration honoured femininity. During the three days, women are excused from housework and encouraged to participate in indoor activities. During the three-day Raja Parba festival, no cultivation is conducted. In Odisha, no one walks barefoot on the ground, as this is done to prepare the ground for the upcoming rain. On each of the three consecutive days, women are seen dressed in their finest attire, enjoying themselves to the utmost, eating cakes and rich food at the homes of their friends and relatives, spending long hours in the company of their friends, and singing festive songs.