There are lots of things on my mind now.I have a lot to rant about actually.My orkut id's been hacked(who is SO unemployed to HACK my id? ..bugger),my new laptop's showing problems,it's mid June and there's no rain and I'm leaving for hostel in two days.So these thoughts have pulled my spirits down a little.Of course there have been some bright spots too..I got a new ipod shuffle(a parting gift :D),some new clothes,talked to a new blogger friend and fed some people at the temple too.But those shall wait,I choose to write about something more important in this post.
It's festival time.Today is the second day of Rajo.It's a very important festival of Orissa that marks the arrival of the monsoons and beginning of the tilling season.It's celebrated over 3 days.During this time the farmers take a break from their work and indulge in gaiety.The idea is to give mother earth a little rest while she menstruates.It's an important festival for young girls who wear new clothes,decorate themselves and swing away.Till a few years back the festival was celebrated with great fervour in the cities as well.There used to be a time when every household used to set a swing in their house for the young girls to enjoy.They still do in some houses.With single houses giving away to high rise buildings and apartments, finding a tree in the compound to fix a swing has become a difficult affair.
I remember while we were kids I used to go to my best friend M's place to celebrate Rajo.They had this huge mango tree near their pond where a big swing was set.While we took turns in swinging we also used to eat the cakes and sweets that were prepared for the occasion.We used to exchange delicacies and have a good time.Almost immediately after Rajo the schools used to reopen after the summer holidays.So everybody wanted to end the holidays on a high note.
One such year during Rajo while I was swinging away in full speed the rope gave away and Dham ! I landed in the pond.When I was finally pulled out I had one frog on my head and 2 more inside my dress.I was in some kind of shock,more because of the croaking animals than the impact. That was the last I sat on the swing.
Over the years as we grew up and got busy with our studies and college life the festival came as a welcome respite from the routine.It became an occasion where we used to catch up with old friends go out and spend some time together.This year most of my friends are out.So it's a quiet celebration for me.I don't even see the enthusiasm in the kids anymore.All they do is wear new clothes and play their usual games.Rajo used to be much more.The swing was an integral part of the festival and girls used to play desi games like pucchi(it's more like the sitting twist..couldn't find anything else to describe it),kaudi(gambling) and khit khit(tic tac toe).There used to be Pucchi competitions as well.
These days you can only feel the arrival of Rajo by the heavy shopping discounts that the shops offer during this time.Yesterday after a hot sunny afternoon the weather suddenly cooled.There was a rush of cool wind and I could hear the thunder.But it didn't rain.Neither did it rain today.I hope it rains tomorrow.
Things are changing..and changing for bad.*Sigh*
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25 comments:
i'm praying for d rains too. ethara rajo re bahut garam hela...
I dont celebrate Rajo, but I could feel your sadness. It always bothers me when things get more and more superficial. I envy the way my parents celebrated Diwali and Holi in the village, and it makes me sad when I put on my new dress and go write my exams and go about regular schedules. I worry for the future generations when things that I have been able to celebrate properly out west even dwindle down.
Hey had read your last post the very day u posted..but cudnt post a comment..will do that now...
Read this un as well...was of a different kind..a different genre...despite spending a considerable chunk of my life in Orissa..I was unaware of Rajo..
and I could find two typos in the post..
1: "...... immediately after Rajo the schools used to reopen from the summer holidays...."
You can replace 'from' with 'after'..sounds better, with correct grammar.
2: "...So it's a quite celebration for me..". It should have been quiet...
Overall a refreshing post...a much needed break from the posts concerning love..lost..regained to be lost again...
all the best..
keep in touch!!!
Jaani - aapke pair zameen pe na rakhiyega. Rajo ke baare me itna kuch likha yahaan lekin ye nahi likha ki pair ke saath kya karna hota hai. :P
@Anwesha,pray hard dear.. happy rajo to you :)
@foreign desi,exactly..If being here people stop celebrating then when people move west/out the festival may well die out.*sad*
@Triyash,thanks duds..shall make the necessary changes.hugs..I shall miss you when u leave.
Btw,you ner heard of Rajo cos u were in Kol during the vacs..samjhe?
Vikas,Thanks bud..shall miss you.wahan ke ccd aao to call kar dena.
Amrit,toh apne dialogue marr hi diya..wohi to prob hai,pair ke sath kuch karna hi nahi hai..I wish instead of being in chappals all the time,it would have been easier to have been carried in palenquins.. :D
Enjoy this lovely season da... I hope to be home soon for to enjoy the same...
take care and have a nice day... cheers...
Things are changing..and changing for bad
***deep sigh***
haha... frogs on ur head... I am trying to visualise it... :)
This festival sounds really interesting. I never knew abt it. Glad I made it to this post.
I am sure it will rain..
You are right... these festivals are somehow losing their sheen and importance as people no longer celebrate them with same enthu.
uh oh ..i hope things change for good,..how about you taking an initiative to celebrate the traditional way :)
Naked Truth For All Of Us.
Yeah...everything is changing :(
may be the next-gen will remember it as just a mere importaceless holiday :( :( :(
good old days - I too miss the cultural traditions...
[:(] parting...
Things are changing..and changing for bad.*Sigh*
too sad..even i used to have quite a many good rajo memories during my kiddo days...stealing mangoes, papayas, swings, flaunting new clothes..miss dose days..
i have rains here daily.. its fun sometimes.. sometime irritating.. and i deactivated my orkut account.. sad that u lost it
There is something so charming about every festival of India. My father grew up in Cuttack and though I have heard a lot of stories about the state, I never knew about rajo. Thanks for the information.
arent a great variety of pitha's also made during rajo??as a child i used to eagerly wait for my neighbors to bring me some!!
Enjoy the rains; Shubho Rajo! :)
Peace. Be well.
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Guess who's back? How have you been?
Cute girl...... good old days.......
Arv..thanks mate.hope you are home soon :D
blunt edges..*sigh*
Harshita,still waiting :(
@ani-aset..exactly..i second thee!!
@shining surya,hope not! :(
@eye-in-sty,hmm..i know..it's d same everywhere
Daniel :(
sampad..I know mate..m nostalgic.. :(
chriz,seriously.. I ve a bundle of owes.. :'(
@perturbed perceiver..exactly..chakuli,manda,enduris.. :D
Kartz..welcome back!!sadly I am going to be out for long now..
femin..thank you madame :)
Man Rajo is one whale of a tym 4 gals, cant say dat it was d same for guyz. We dint even get access to the swings:P
But I dont think any true blooded Oriya can forget the taste of poda-pitha wherever he or she lands up :)
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