The annual Raas Mahotsav is here, and
what better place can be than Majuli in Assam to immerse oneself in the devotion
of Lord Krishna. The annual Raas Mahotsav or Raas Leela has started in Assam’s
Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island.
Majuli is the core of Assamese
Neo-Vaishnavism. The district-size river island over the mighty river
Brahmaputra has dozens of Vaishnavite monasteries, locally called Satras, and
the Raas festival is organised in a grand manner, keeping intact the pure
essence of the festival.
Locals perform Bhaona, a traditional
form of drama where artists play various mythological characters. Bhaona was
started in the fifteenth or sixteenth century by a social-religious reformer
and a figure of importance in the cultural and religious history of Assam,
Srimanta Sankardeva.
People in thousands witnessed the Raas
performed at various monasteries on Monday night. Auniati, Dakhinpat, Uttar
Kamalabari, Natun Kamalabari, and Garmur satras are some of the big
monasteries.
For the past several centuries, it has
been the tradition of the Majuli people to pay their obeisance to Lord Krishna
by enacting his Raas Leela.
In upper Assam districts, Raas is
largely celebrated, where humans dress themselves in various Indian
mythological characters. Locally made masks are one of the major features of
the dance dramas and represent various mythological creatures.
Moreover, statues of mythological
figures are installed for public viewing.
Starting this year, the Assam Government,
led by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, is financially assisting Raas committees. The State
Government transfers Rs 25,000 each to about 3,000 organisers across the State.
The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Government
also provides Rs 150,000 and Rs 10,000 to Rongali Bihu and Durga Puja
organisers.
“Our commitment to preserving and
promoting our culture is of utmost importance. Starting this year, we will be
providing a financial grant of Rs 25,000 for celebrating the Rass Festival in
3,000 locations. This initiative aims to support and encourage the celebration
of this traditional festival across our region,” said the Assam CM recently in
an X post.
Later today, CM Himanta is scheduled to
visit Majuli to participate in Raas Mahotsav.
ANI
