Bhubaneswar: Raja, an annual Odia festival of celebrating womanhood, was inaugurated today at Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) headquarters in Bhubaneswar.

Promoting authentic Odia delicacies coupled with celebrations during Raja including swings, alata and mehndi for girls and young women, the Raja Mahotsav was inaugurated by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh.

As part of the three-day festival, special arrangements have been made to ensure sale of Raja delicacies and sweets across all hospitality units of OTDC. Further, traditional swings have been set up and Mehndi artists invited to the Panthanivas-Bhubaneswar to decorate the hands of women visiting the hospitality facility during the festival, free of cost.

To make the celebration grand, three ‘Pitha on Wheels’ vans have been provided for sale of Raja delicacies and shall be stationed at Master Canteen, KIIT Square, and ITER-Khandagiri from 8 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 7 PM. The vans will provide for take away of Raja Pithas and other delicacies.

The Pitha on Wheels is also stationed at Sambalpur. Raja Pitha counters will be set up at the Silvercity Boatclub, Cuttack, ISBT Café and Nimantran Restaurant, Bhubaneswar for sale to public from 14th June to 16th June 2024. The Pitha counter will be operated at Kalinga convention Hall of Panthanivas, Bhubaneswar from 13th to 16th June 2024.

The event had officers from OTDC including Director of OTDC Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, General Manager Lalatendu Sahoo, Utkal Paryatan Nigam Employee Association working president Benudhar Patra among others present on the occasion.