Raja is the most important festival of Odisha, which is generally associated with the farmers and is celebrated during the onset of monsoons. Also known as Mithuna Sankranti, Raja falls on the first day of the month of Asadha (June-July) from which the rainy season starts, thus moistening the summer parched soil and making it ready for productivity.

Significantly, it is a festival of the unmarried girls; the potential mothers. Girls are forbidden from all kinds of manual work during these three days of Raja-festival. They don’t carry water, cut vegetables, and sweep the houses. Neither do they sew clothes, grind grains, comb hair, walk in bare foot etc. During all these three days, they are seen in the best of dresses and decorations spending time visiting their friends or moving up and down on improvised swings.  During these three days women and girls take rest from work and wear new Saree, Alata,and ornaments..

Though celebrated all over the state it is more enthusiastically observed in the coastal districts of Odisha. Saja Baja (preparatory Day) is the day prior to the first day from which the festival of Rajo Starts. The first day is called Pahili Raja (Prior Raja), second is Raja (Proper Raja) and third is Basi Raja (Past Raja).In some places however there is a custom of celebrating the fourth Raja also known as the “Basumata Puja” .

Soak the rice for minimum 3 to 4 hours . Make a fine paste of this and keep aside.
In a pan , put 1tbsp of ghee and add raisins and cashew nuts. Fry for a while and keep aside.
In the same pan add grated coconut, cheese, cardamom powder, ½ cup jaggery, nutmeg powder and fry till jaggery melts and everything is blended together. Add the fried cashewnuts and raisins. Filling for Poda Pitha is ready.



Preheat the Microwave oven for 10 mts at 180 degree c.
In another pan , put 4 cups of water, add salt, bay leaf, fennel powder, slice of coconut and jaggery . Bring everything to a boil and then add the rice paste along with 1 tbsp of ghee. Stir continuously till the rice paste becomes like a dough. Turn off the heat.
In a tin, apply ghee all over and pour half of the dough in it. Spread the fillings and put the rest dough over it.
Bake in the microwave convention mode for 40 to 45 mts or till a toothpick comes out clean.

Make slice of it once cool and serve this odia delicacy with pride.