RAAS MELA

Raas Mela secured but without crowd

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 19: The 196-year-old Raas Mela failed to draw visitors as it did in previous years. The presence of huge policemen and the ground covered with dust – these are worth of mentioning. Presence of a circus tent and different kinds of merry-go-round too failed to attract general visitors including school children.

 

Strict security measures at the entrance of the Madan Mohan Temple complex and adjacent areas turned the visitors and devotees aggrieved. It is hard to approach the temple to get a glance of the idol of Lord Madan Mohan during the ongoing Raas Yatra festival.

 

In the fair ground the traders are also unhappy. Transaction of business is yet to start in full swing. Bhutanese women traders came with their merchandise especially winter garments. Three stalls are there from Bangladesh. The womenfolk of the town are visiting these stalls to see real Dhakai and Jamdani sarees. Because of high prices of the items the trading is not satisfactory enough.

 

Besides the general stalls of various items as one may see in any fair the Raas Mela extended an opportunity to the government and other organisations to come closer to the general public. The stalls of the information and cultural affairs department and health department already attracted many visitors. The stall on literacy drive is also a mentionworthy one.

 

Dust is playing the role of the villain in Raas Mela, and the police too. The entire Raas Mela Maidan is covered with sandy dust. It was poured recently to develop the ground but before completion of the work the fair started. A criminal can escape without notice from the most alert team of policemen but it is impossible to get back without making one's feet dirty. []