Dance of celebration of love

Raas leela : The dance of passion and love

The joyful dance of lord Krishna with his gopis is known as 'Raas leela'. Raas leela has been a popular theme in Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Manipuri, and Kuchipudi dance forms. Raas Leela is a popular form of folk theatre in the regions of Mathura, Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, especially during the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Holi, and amongst various followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in the region.It is a Vaishnavite theatre form based on the legends of Radha Krishna with emphasis on prem bhakti or love and devotion. 

Main characters are Radha, Krishna and the gopis. The theme often depict the pangs of separation of the gopis and Radha from Krishna.The pure dance sequences performed in the Raas leela dances follow a specific rhythmic patterns and body movements, which are traditionally handed down.The beginning and end of the leela is enclosed within the walls of Bhakti. The Raas Leela as such is a way or path that leads to the Lord and the fulfillment of eternal happiness of all the devotees. The performance and even the seeing and hearing of it is considered as a good deed. It is a medium of achieving salvation.

The five different types of Raas Leela are :

(i) Maha Raas

 (ii) Kunja Raas

 (iii) Basanta Raas

 (iv) Nitya Raas and 

(v) Diba Raas. 

Theatrical elements of Raas Leela

Raas Leela is performed in the Mandap attached to a temple. In local areas in absence of Mandap, temporary mandap is setup. The Mandap as such is constructed with great care fulfilling the required rules, as it signifies the holy place where the divine sport of Krishna and Gopis is to be performed. The exact performance space of the Raas Leela is known as Raas Mandal. Raas Mandali is the central space of the Mandap where the exact performance takes place.  In the Brindavan Bhava the main playing space was centered around the dense forest of Brindavan where a crescent shape platform with abundant sweet smelling flowers, creepers and flower-buds all around is shaped for the divine sport. The present day Raas mandal is somewhat created to resemble as mentioned in the Puranas with artistic specified effects. The Raas Mandal is constructed, designed and decorated to have a realistic resemblance of the settings of Brindavan’s Raas Leela sport. 

The main eight pillars of the Raas Mandal are either wrapped with white clothes or with leaves (especially jackfruit tree or peepal). The ceiling is first covered -wiihyenphak which is a mat, made of Bamboo strips crossing one another or at times simply with plain white cloth. At present, movable 149 ceiling is used.lighting generally comprises of bulbs and tube lights. Straw mats are spread out in rows in all the directions surrounding the Raas Mandal for the audience. Once the preliminaries and beautification of the Raas Mandal is over, it is considered or taken as Brindavan’s Nikunja forest. The Raas Mandal is pure and sacred and prohibits entering it. The Vaishnav devotees identify it with the real performing space of Krishna and Radhika. 

Dress

The costume of Raas Leela as such is not to create a visual effect. The form of the attire, the color, symbols and motifs designed have its own meaning and underlying relationship with the concerned characters.There is costume for specific characters. The costume of Lord Krishna is known as ‘Natvar Veshm. The dhoti is of silk, golden in colour with studded sequins. Kunja or the frontal fold pleats of the pheijom is put down. Khaons or decorated flaps cross on the left and right shoulders and hang down from the waist area on both sides slightly below the knee. The upper part is worked with bright and shining sequins. The bare chest is covered with pisindrai mari, a gold necklace. The wrist, hand, forearm, feet, leg, etc. are decorated with bracelets, rings, anklets, necklaces, wrist and armbands or armlet. Radha and Gopis wear potloi. It is worn around the waist and hangs down reaching the ankle nearly touching the ground. Potloi is also known as Kumir. It is decorated with sequins, mirrors, gold applique, brass and silver colored stripes forming distinct patterns. They are totally cleansed and almost ready to enter the world of Lord Krishna. Abhisek is performed and all the actors now identified with a particular character proceed to the Raas mandal. They are considered sacred and cannot be touched by the ordinary people.