THE MAJULI RAAS MAHOTSAV FESTIVAL
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| Landscape of Majuli http://www.letsseeindia.com/ |
Mājuli or Majoli is the biggest river island in the world in the Brahmaputra River, Assam, India and also 1st island district of the country. The island is formed by the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north. Mājuli island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat. It is a center of Vaishnava culture and a bio-diversity hot spot with rare varieties of flora and fauna, the assemblage and assimilation of many ethnic groups under the same sky, retaining their respective individual and traditional cultural entities is a very striking phenomenon that easily attracts visitors to this island. And with a glorious history of 500 years of Satriya (Assammese monastaries) tradition, the island today is a hub where monks learn brilliant ancient forms of arts, philosophy, drama, dance and religion.
Majuli is famous famous for its river island and the core of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism celebrates the festival of raas in a very elaborate manner. As per hindu rituals the festival is scheduled to be celebrated on the month of November. With the glorious history of five hundred years of Satriya living cultural tradition, the rich and colorful tribal culture elements, Manjuli has the charm to beckon the tourists, itself as a paradise on the earth. Majuli is the lone place several centuries, it is the traditon of the Majuli people to pay their obeisance to lord Krishna by enacting his Raas Leela themselves. During the Raas festival, Majuli becomes a veritable place for pilgrimage. For the believers, the island becomes the abode of the lord and other divinely figures during this four day festival starting from the Raas Purnima day.
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Virtually every single person on the island is involved in the three day long raas festival, depicting the life of Krishna. All communities of the island play a part during this time - children acting in plays, teacher's lending their voices to characters, shopkeepers and bank employees reciting songs and chants. the various monasteries of the island stage various interpretations times when there were no television, the Raas Festival is an all night long extravaganza with no commercials in between, but with everybody's eyes glued to the performances of the talented and kind artists. All communities of the island play a part during this time - children acting in plays, teachers lending their voices to characters, shopkeepers and bank employees reciting songs and chants. The various monasteries of the island stage various interpretations of Krishna’s life by using folk dances, puppets, masks, songs and dance, all enrolled in a charming riot of colors. And like old times when there were no television, the Raas Festival is an all-night long extravaganza with no commercials in between, but with everybody’s eyes glued to the performances of the talented and kind artists.
The State’s cultural epicentre Majuli is all set to celebrate Raas festival from Tuesday onwards as most of the satras and cultural troupes have completed their final round of rehearsal for the annual performances.Officers from Majuli sub-divisional administration said that the historic satras apart, 40 other organising committees have already registered their names with the local administration in order to make the celebration a grand success across the length and breadth of the river island. According to them, around 15 organising committees are yet to get themselves registered. However, they are expected to submit their papers tomorrow morning.
Following the convention of the historic Dakhinpat Satra, Raas puja will start on Tuesday evening, which will be followed by dramatisation of Raas Leela of Lord Krishna at naamghars and several stages, i.e., from Wednesday to Friday. To mark completion of 175 years celebration of Raas Mahotsav, the historic Satra has invited a cultural troupe from Manipur with an aim to strengthen the feeling of universal brotherhood.
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A popular cultural organisation named Sanmilita Shilpi Samaj has made all possible preparations for the spectacular performance at Kamalabari. The president of the organisation, Prabhat Burabhakat said that Assamese cine artist Gayatri Mahanta, Pabitra Barua and many other experienced artistes will perform in the three-day professional show from November 25 to 27. Since the past few years, Burabhakat and his associates have attracted thousands of tourists and devotees to their Kamalabari premises as many popular artistes have participated in the dramatisation of Lord Krishna’s eventful life through Raas Leela. Along with the celebrations, the historic Uttar Kamalabari Satra will provide free food and lodging on a daily basis to all the visitors during the festival period at the Satra premises. This Satra is on record to have taken several initiatives for popularising Vaishnavite art and culture in India and many other foreign countries, besides providing education to children along with health service.
Visitors to this Treasure Island in recent days have been able to soak in the festive ambience while strolling through the dew-drenched pathways of the remote villages during the breezy evenings. Apart from preparations for the music, dance and drama, the traditional art form of mask-making has also take centrestage. Hordes of foreign tourists have already descended in river island Majuli to get a feel of the four-day festivities
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