<i>Raas Mela being celebrated amid festivity</i>

1 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Raas Mela, an occasion of religious festival of the Hindu community people, is being celebrated in different areas of the country including Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district, Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali and Dubler Char in the Sundarbans. The main theme of the Moha Raas Leela festival observed by the indigenous Manipuri community of Moulvibazar district is world peace, harmony and love for humanity, truth and beauty, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent. 'Bishnupuria' sect of the community has organised their programme at Shib Bazaar Jura Mondop of Madhabpur under Kamalganj upizila as they are observing 167th anniversary of the festival that was introduced here in 1842. 'Meithei' sect of the Monipuri has organised their Moha Ras Leela Programme at Adampur Manipuri temple in the same upazila. Meitheis started this festival here in 1986. The festival of the Manipuri community includes 'Gustha Leela (cowboy dance), Raas Nritya (dance of Sri Radha and her girl friends), kirtan (devotional songs) and discussions, said leaders of the Monipuri community. Attractive fair of Manipuri handicrafts and other things have started at Madhabpur and Adampur festival venues. Thousands of devotees and visitors from other places including capital Dhaka have gathered at the two places on this occasion. Kuakata sea beach is buzzing with thousands of people as the 150-year-old traditional Raas Mela, the biggest festival of the Hindu community in the southern part of the country, began yesterday, reports our Patuakhali correspondent. Besides devotees from Hindu community, a large number of visitors and tourists irrespective of faith and profession are also gathering at the beach to enjoy the occasion. The three-day celebrations began with devotees taking a dip in the water of the Bay at dawn after the full moon on Sunday as they believe that the bath would wipe out all their sins. Eight pair idols of Sri Krishna were set up on a temporary mandop at the beach. Various programmes including kirton and religious discussions have been arranged on the occasion of the three-day festival that ends tomorrow. All hotels, motels and tourist lodges are jam-packed with visitors. The administration has taken adequate security and safety measures and deployed police and Rapid Action Battalion in strategic areas of the sea beach and tourists zone. Raas Mela will also be celebrated at Dubler Char in the Sundarbans at the same time.