Row over circus v cultural performance in Raas Mela

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 16: In a bid to maintain the environment clean thin plastic carry bags will not be allowed in Cooch Behar Raas Mela that is going to start on 24 November. No one will be allowed to use LPG cylinders in any eatery or shop inside the fortnight long fair premises to ensure security. Declaring the taboos the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO Mr Jayanta Kumar Maiti said no shops would be allowed to sit in front of the Madan Mohan temple during the mela days. The number of close circuit cameras is to be raised from three to four inside the temple complex.

 

The preparatory meeting of the 195-year old Raas Mela was held yesterday. In that meeting representatives of Cooch Behar Municipality placed a proposal to increase the rent of stalls in the fair. But the representatives of business community opposed the move. At last it was decided that the rent per square-feet will be increased by five-paise. Till last year it was 75-paise only. Mentionworthy, Cooch Behar Municipality is the organiser of the Raas Mela while Debottar Trust Board organises the Raas Utsav at Madan Mohan temple complex. There will be about 1,500 stalls and the estimated budget for the mela is Rs 15-lakh.

 

Presence of a circus tent is the main attraction of the Raas Mela but this time no circus will come. This may dishearten visitors especially from the rural areas. The SDO, Mr Maiti believes that without a circus the mela may lose its charm to many. When asked, the chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality, Mr Biren Kundu said as no circus came to north Bengal till now the Raas Mela will not get one.

 

As a compensation for circus the civic body will organise cultural programmes daily. Renowned singers, dancers and performers from Kolkata and Assam are to come to entertain mela visitors. Mr Kundu said two state ministers - Mr Ananta Roy and Mr Paresh Adhikary - would attend the inaugural ceremony while Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi will come to attend the closing ceremony.

 

Cooch Behar Sadar SDO, Mr Maiti feared that stampede might occur if famous artistes come to perform in the mela premises. He opined that to maintain the healthy cultural tradition of Raas Mela the folk culture of this region like Bhawaiya should be given priority. On the otherhand the chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality, Mr Kundu questioned the definition of healthy culture. He assured that renowned artistes are to come and adequate security measures will be taken to maintain peace. The civic body will not do anything that affects law and order situation, he declared. []