Raas mela in West Benagal

Festival of culture- Raas utsav 

raas mela in coochbehar
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West Bengal is said to be the city of color and culture. It adorns various culture in itself, and celebrates every festival in a grand way. Hundreds of festivities are held every year, either to please the innumerable divinities worshiped by the Bengali people or to celebrate the glory, grandeur and beauty of something important occurred in the past. Even there are festivals  and fairs organized to promote arts, tourism or even celebrate a good harvest. Starting from the most remotest village to the urban city life everyone enjoy the fairs and festivities of Bengal. The city of joy always smiles through its vast cultural colors. Amongst the numerous fairs and festivals celebrated in West Bengal, Rash mela (fair) holds a special place. The Rash mela (Rash festival), is one of the most ancient, traditional and well known among the fairs of Bengal.  The festival celebrates the piousness of the beautiful love story of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. 

From among the various parts in West Bengal where this festival is celebrated Nabdwip and Cooch Behar are two of the most ancient and talked about fairs in the state. 

raas mela in coochbehar
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In Nabadwip raas mela Rash Yatra of Sri Sri Madan Mohan Thakur (Lord Krishna) and the Raas mela celebrations starts off from the day of Purnima(full-moon) in the month of Kartik according to the Bengali calendar, usually falls in the month of  November or December. Whereas in Cooch Behar it is held annually, the festival takes place every year, in December, to honor Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. Though it is celebrated at many places in West Bengal, including Kolkata, this festival is mainly likened with the celebrations in Cooch Behar, because of the popularity and grandeur of this festival there. Rash Mela is a colorful festival with lots of local tales, fun and frolic. Many eminent artists from India perform at the fair, adding to its glory. 

Although the festival is celebrated in both the places in a grand manner but there still remains a basic difference between the celebrations of Raas Utsav in Cooch Behar from that of the celebrations in Nabadwip. The celebrations in Nabadwip involves worshipping of the Radha-Krishna idol, whereas in Cooch Behar Sri Krishna is separated from Sri Radha and is worshipped as Sri Sri Madan Mohan. Another distinctive feature of the celebrations in Cooch Behar is that people from different caste and creed join the celebration. Even, the revolving Rash Chakra at the temple lawn is decorated beautifully by a Muslim family since years. The fair runs for fifteen days where people from different caste and creed and from different backgrounds enjoy business transactions, rituals, practises and the feelings of joy. The fair organized as a part of Rash Mela gives the tourists a great opportunity to buy some local handicrafts. Apart from the colorful fair, a yatra (procession) taken out at the time of Rash Mela, catches the attention of people. Thousands of people from various parts of the country come to Cooch-Behar, to attend this fair. Its tradition and importance lies in the glorious past of the district, when Rajas and Maharajas used to rule over it. The celebration of Rash Yatra was once the main festival of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar and it still retains the old grandeur and charm, to quite an extent.

immersion in nabadwip
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The celebration doesnot end after worshiping the idols or enjoying the fairs. The main attraction remains during the immersion of the idols. Many tourists and the local people gather in the place to see the procession during the immersion, it itself becomes a major celebration of lights and music.