Majuli gears up for Raas festival

Like bygone years, the world's largest river island Majuli is getting ready for the upcoming Raas Mahotsav. The Majuli district administration has declared November 11 (Monday) a local holiday in the Brahmaputra island on the occasion of the three-day Raas festival to be starting from Monday.

According to mythology, Sri Dakhinpat Satra of Majuli is the birthplace of Assam's Raas festival. In the 65 existing Sattras, community halls, public places, Namghars (prayer halls) and in the schools, preparations are in full swing with sounds of khol (drum), taal (large-sized cymbals), flute and conch shells which are audible from far and near.

The Raas Mahotsav in autumn is also a great time to observe the traditional chanting, dances and drama recitations held in Majuli to celebrate the birth, life, and feats of Krishna.

Fifteenth-century revered Assamese socio-cultural-religious reformer and Saint Srimanta Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavdeva who initiated Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture in Assam had made Majuli their hub by constructing many Satras or monasteries representing the colourful Assamese culture, historical documents state.