Odisha is celebrating Raja Parba. Raja Parba offers a refreshing perspective, countering the stigma surrounding menstruation.
During this festival, women menstruating align with ‘Bhudevi,’ the Earth goddess, pausing their routine tasks to don new attire and join in vibrant celebrations. This three-day event fosters a positive acknowledgment of a natural bodily process, rarely extended to young girls.
By honoring menstruation, the community and families instill a sense of pride, dispelling notions of ‘impurity’ or ‘shame.’ It’s viewed as a sacred cycle, akin to Bhudevi’s, symbolizing a vital force that sustains life on Earth.
