Bhubaneswar: With Odia ‘asmita’ (self-respect) being the new buzzword, people from different walks of life celebrated Pahili Raja on Friday. The festival, which marks the beginning of the agricultural year in Odisha, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy across the state. Given respite from their usual daily works, girls wear traditional attires, apply “alta” on their feet, “mehendi” on their hands and spend time at leisure, play indoor and outdoor games.
The traditional attire for women during Pahili Raja includes a new sari, usually in bright colours, and various ornaments like bangles, earrings, and necklaces. People offer beauty services in different malls and public places. Many beauty parlours and salons offer special packages for Pahili Raja, which include traditional makeup, hairstyling, and mehendi application.
These services are very popular among young girls and women who want to look their best during the festival. President Droupadi Murmu, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, former CM Naveen Patnaik, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan also greeted the people on the auspicious occasion. The leaders extended their warm wishes to the people of Odisha and hoped that the festival would bring happiness and prosperity.
The President said, “My sincere greetings to my dear countrymen on the occasion of Ganparb Raja. The people of Odisha celebrate this festival with gaiety through pies, sweets, drinks and games, honouring the soil and clouds. On.