Low-key Raja celebration on the cards amid Sunday lockdown
Sandip.Bal@timesgroup.com
It’s Raja today though the situation and the overall mood is not really celebratory. As with almost about everything in life, the Covid-19 pandemic is set to play spoilsport during the three-day fertility festival as well. And the usual Sunday lockdown today means celebrations can’t extend outside homes. Here are few things we are going to miss this Raja festival, unless of course you have already made all the preparations at home.
No Raja Doli
Since the government has been advising people to maintain social distance and wear masks, mass celebration of the festival will not be permissible. People have been asked to celebrate the parba at home with family members and without visiting relatives. Since Raja doli or swings are part of this festival and people play cards and other games, the state government has advised people not to indulge in these activities and stay safe.
Even city residents are not keen on venturing out and taking unnecessary risks. “We are not going anywhere though the lockdown has been eased. On Sunday, it’s a shutdown anyway and we can’t go out. But on other days, I’ll try avoiding friends and relatives. We will make pitha at home and enjoy. Seeing the number of cases rising, I would prefer to stay indoors,” said Saraswati Biswal, a banker.
Subroto Bagchi, spokesperson of the state government for Covid-19 management on Friday advised people to remember that Raja would come every year. “People must take care of their health now to be able to celebrate it again and again. We mustn’t forget that this festival serves a greater cause. This year, it should be about how we restrain ourselves and do our duties while staying aware of the disease,” he said, adding, “Every year we play games and meet friends. This year, we have to avoid all these. While playing doli, we must ensure social distancing. But it’s better to play doli at home or where there are no other people around.”
No Raja paan
The state government’s Covid-19 guidelines discourage people to eat paan and spit anywhere. Even paan shops in the city are not selling the special Raja paan this time. The government spokesperson also requested people not to chew paan and spit outside. “Since it’s a part of the festival, we can make them at home and have them indoors and not spit the juice outside,” Bagchi said.
OTDC’s pitha on wheels
The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), which organises the festival at Panthaniwas and sells different types of traditional pithas every year, has launched Pitha on Wheels and home delivery of the traditional delights this year. “Since the weekend shutdown is effective in the city, we will be providing pitha through home delivery. Besides, there will be six vans selling pitha at different places in the city on other days during the festival,” said Srimayee Mishra, chairperson of OTDC.
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