Assam: Majuli gears up for Raas Mahotsav

MAJULI- Majuli, the world’s largest river island, which is also the  the land of Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries) is preparing for one of its most important annual events, the Raas Mahotsav, which will be held from November 15 to 17.

This festival, which is centred around the divine life of Lord Krishna, has been celebrated for over 150 years, making it a deeply rooted tradition in the cultural heritage of Assam.

This year, the historic Dakhinpat Satra will mark 185 years of celebrating Raas, informed Satradhikar, Dakhinpat Satra Nani Gopal Deba Goshwami.

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The Raas originated in Goloka and later came to Vrindavan. Later, through the play “Keli Gopal,” Mahapurush Srimanta Shankar Deva introduced the Raas into the Neo-Vaishnavite religion, Goswami said.

Dakhinpat Satra’s 10th Satradhikar, Vasudev Prabhu, included a play depicting the life of Lord Krishna from his birth to the death of Arishtasura. This tradition has continued, and we have now reached 185 years. The performance takes 10 hours to complete from, Sri Krishna’s birth, then shows Krishna in Vrindavan, and finally depicts Krishna’s Leela with the Gopis, ending with the death of Arishtasura.

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We conduct this Puja with the utmost purity and devotion, expecting more than 10,000 people to attend. Not a single word of our drama has changed; it is performed exactly as it was 185 years ago. However, there have been some exterior changes, such as electric lights now replacing menthol lamps.” He said.

Samuguri Satra’s famed mask artists, who craft detailed masks for Raas performances, are hard at work, bringing to life characters from the epic tales. The tradition of mask-making in Majuli has evolved to also include commercial purposes, allowing these artists to support their craft beyond the festival.

“Raas has two main parts: one depicting Lord Krishna in Vrindavan and the other focusing on Lord Krishna with the Gopis. Masks are crucial for both parts, and our schedule has become very busy as the festival approaches. The masks worn for demon and rakshasa characters are priced around 3,500 rupees, while masks for animals or birds, like Bokashoor and Aghashoor, are more expensive, ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 rupees, said an artist who are busy these days in making masks.

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Majuli’s Raas Mahotsav is expected to attract approximately 50,000 domestic and international tourists, with the district administration preparing for a substantial increase in visitors that will nearly double the island’s usual population of 200,000.

With Majuli’s population of around 200,000, each of the 65 Raas centers will have approximately 300 to 400 people actively participating in the festivities. Additionally, security forces from outside Majuli are being deployed to support local arrangements and ensure safety throughout the event,”.