Raas festival of Majuli (http://www.majuliraas.in) :
In Majuli, the inhabitants regularly celebrate a series of festivals
throughout different seasons of the year. Among those regular celebrations’
Raas Leela’ in Majuli is observed and celebrate at the different Satra
institutions, permanent community halls and in temporary stage pendals arranged
by the organizers. This festival is now turning to be the most popular
festivities which attracts thousands of guest audience to Majuli from many
remote corners of our state. ’ Raas Leela’ is a spiritual function and the
original story is taken from the ‘Bhagawat Purana’. Our Neo Vaishnavite
spiritual leader Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev had brought down the story from
‘Bhagawat Purana’ and on the basis of the narration in the Purana he composed a
poetic chapter in his religious book the " Kirtana". He also composed an Ankiya
Drama the “Keligopal” which is the foundation of ' Raas Leela' in Assam.
Sankadeva incorporated spiritual under current and philosophical ideas in the
drama. Apparently the theme of Keligopal seems to be an erotic expression but
it is infused with the spirit of devotion to Lord Krishna. Its ultimate message
was to surrender ourselves from the bondage of ‘Maya’ for salvation. The
activities of Lord Krishna from childhood to adolescence depicted in Keligopal,
significantly express the meaning of control over sensual pleasure and to
engage our soul will merge with the super soul of the universe (merging of Atma
with Paramatma).
Celebration of ' Raas Leela' become a cultural tradition in Assam. It is found
that ' Raas Leela' was first started in Sri Sri Dakhinpat Satra in Majuli more
than three hundred years ago. In Sri Sri Dakhinpat satra, ‘Raas Puja’ was
continued from the period of Satradhikar Basudev Goswami. The Satradhikar
started the movement as Vedic system of puja during Raas Purnima. He offered
Puja after an instruction of Jadavrai Mahapravu at his night’s dream.
Satradhikar was advised to continue Raas Puja for protection of his satra from
the erosion of the Brahmaputra. This was possibly the beginning of ' Raas
Leela' in Majuli. The system of Raas Puja was later developed by Basudev
Goswami and he added some theatrical elements to satisfy the gathering of
people during the observation of Raas Purnima.
Apart from the Vedic form of Raas Puja, the present system of 'Raas Leela',
began to perform at Sri Sri Kamalabari Satra, Sri Sri Uttar Kamalabari Satra
and Sri Sri Samoguri Satra in Majuli which may be considered as the pioneers of
modern Raas Leela in the state of Assam. At the initial state Raas Leela was
performed at the Satra Namghars only. Only the male members took part in the
drama. The celebration later expanded to all over Majuli and it was modernized
by Sri Sri Pitamber Deva Goswami, the 11th Satradhikar of social reformer of
historic Sri Sri Garamur Satra. He allowed co-acting and paved ways for all
communities participation in Raas Leela platforms. But still today, the Satras
under celibacy(unmarried) system like Sri Sri Dakhinpat Satra, Sri Sri
Kamalabari Satra, Sri Sri Uttar Kamalabari Satra and Sri Sri Bhogpur Satra
perform Raas Leela with male actors selected from among the Satra devotees.
Besides the Satras in Majuli, Raas Leela is celebrated at several community
halls, temporary pandals and Namghars. This is now not a festival of Satra
institutions only but most of the culturally interested inhabitants belonging
to different caste and communities in Majuli celebrate Raas Purnima
continuously in at least two to three days with pomp and gaiety.
The drama of Raas Leela is performed with an unique combination of dance, music
and acting. Originally Srimanta Sankardeva in his Keligopal drama emphasized
only on the activities of Lord Krishna during his childhood and adolescence
period . But the present Raas Leela drama incorporates the social background
chapter that exhibits the urgency of Lord Krishna’s incarnation on earth to
bring about peace and honesty to the universe. The next part of the drama
exposes Krishna’s activities with companions and Gopis, the symbolic
presentation of erotic emotion leading merging of ‘Atma’ with ‘Paramatma’. The
last part exhibits Krishna’s dance with Gopis and his temporary absence and the
reactions of the Gopinies. This chapter is termed as ‘Gopivirah’ or ' Maharaas'
which is presented with vocal and instrumental music of classical style
introduced by Srimanta Sankardeva.
For attractions of audience the Raasleela stage are well decorated and the
imaginary natural beauty of Gakul, Brindavan is arranged by the artists of the
respective stages. Among the multicolored as traditional religious cultural
resources preserved as practice in Majuli, Raasleela occupies important place
and the islander hold up this heritage culture with traditional spirit so far.
How To Reach :
Majuli is a river island on the Brahmaputra and is accessible by road via
Lakhimpur and ferry service from neamati ghat near jorhat town,which is 320 km
east of Guwahati.Though Majuli is just 12 km north of Jorhat, The journey takes
about 3 hrs, involving a half hrs bus ride to neamati.Jorhat remains the main
entry point to the Island,there are other entries through Lakhimpur.
By Road: From Guwahati there are two routes to reach Majuli.First one is
Guwahati to Majuli via lakhimpur,which is 536 Kms.Second route is from Guwahati
to Majuli via Bogibil bridge,which is 566 Kms and the journey takes aroud 12
Hrs.
By Air: The nearest airport is jorhat at Rowriah.There are regular flights to
Jorhat from Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi. There is another airport from which
Majuli can be accessible, which is Mohanbari at Dibrughar District.
By Rail: Mariani in Jorhat is Majuli's nearest rail station.
Contacts :
Mail ID : [email protected]
Phone Number : 8638687074
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সমাজৰ কাৰণে ভাল কাম কৰাজনৰ পৰিচয় ৰাইজৰ আগত দাঙি ধৰিব লাগে আৰু ভাল খবৰবোৰ যিমান
পাৰি ৰাইজৰ মাজত বিলাব লাগে। ---- বুলজিৎ বুঢ়াগোহাঁই
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