Raja Sankranti, also known as Raja Parba or Mithuna Sankranti, is a popular festival in Odisha that celebrates womanhood. The three-day-long festival is marked every year with great fanfare across the state. The second day of the festival signifies the beginning of the solar month of Mithuna, from which the season of rains starts. Raja Sankranti 2024 celebrations begin on June 14 and continue till June 16. As per traditional beliefs, it is said that the Hindu earth goddess, Bhumi, one of the consorts of the deity Vishnu, experiences menstruation during the first three days of the festival. The fourth day is called Vasumati Snana, or the ceremonial bath of Bhumi. Here, we bring you Raja Sankranti 2024 start and end dates along with the significance of the three-day Odisha festival.

As per records, the term ‘Raja’ in the name Raja Sankranti came from the Sanskrit word rajas, which means menstruation and a menstruating woman is called ‘rajasvala’. In the medieval period, the festival became more popular as an agricultural holiday marking the worship of Bhumi. Let us know more about Raja Sankranti 2024 dates and the significance of the annual festival celebrating womanhood.

Raja Sankranti 2024 Start and End Dates

Raja Sankranti 2024 will be celebrated from June 14 to June 16, 2024.

Raja Sankranti Significance

The festival of Raja Sankranti typically falls in mid-June, marking the beginning of the agricultural year. The festival is associated with the onset of the monsoon season, which is crucial for farming in the region. The first day is called Pahili Raja, the second day is Mithuna Sankranti, the third day is Bhudaaha or Basi Raja. The final fourth day is called Basumati snana, in which the ladies bath the grinding stone as a symbol of Bhumi with turmeric paste and flowers, sindoor etc. and all types of seasonal fruits are offered to goddess Bhumi.

The festival is particularly significant for women. It is a time when women and girls take a break from their daily chores, wear new clothes, apply alatha (a type of red dye) on their feet, and indulge in various festivities. Raja Sankranti signifies the beginning of the agricultural season. During these three days, women and girls take rest from work and wear new clothes and ornaments. The festival is a way to celebrate the fertility of the land and the arrival of the monsoon, which is essential for farming.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2024 07:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).