RAAS YATRA

Raas festival begins in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 12: The Raas Yatra festival of Lord Madan Mohan has started at the Madan Mohan Temple premises this night. The district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha performed all religious rituals and Yajna at the temple premises. After this he inaugurated the Raas Yatra by whirling the specially decorated Raas Chakra constructed by Md Altaf Mian, who makes the Raas Chakra decorated with pictures of Hindu mythological events as a hereditary act.

 

After completion of all rituals the main gate of the temple complex had been opened for commoners. Hundreds of people and devotees rushed into the temple premises to get a sacred Tika of the Yajna and a glance of the well-ornamented idol of Lord Modan Mohan. And from that time the festival started for a fortnight. The Debottar Trust Board celebrates the Raas Yatra and the Cooch Behar Municipality conducts the Raas Mela.

 

The DM Mr Sinha also inaugurated the 196-year old Raas Mela by opening the main entrance of the fair ground this evening. Superintendent of police, Cooch Behar, Mr Devendra Prakash Singh lighted the sacred lamp at the ceremonial dais. Cooch Behar Municipality chairman Mr Biren Kundu, Cooch Behar Sadar SDO Mr Jayanta Maiti and other dignitaries were present at the Raas Mela inaugural ceremony at Raas Mela ground this evening. The festival will continue for a fortnight.

 

The Raas Mela is the biggest and oldest fair in north Bengal. During this fortnight various cultural programmes would be held on every evening at the Madan Mohan temple premises organised by the Debottar Trust Board. The Madan Mohan temple wore a fresh coat of paints and it has been decorated and illuminated attractively for the Raas Yatra of Lord Madan Mohan.

 

On the otherhand, district judge of Cooch Behar Mr KYS Manhas inaugurated the Raas festival of Lord Madan Mohan this evening at the Thakur Bari of Kumar Gajendra Narayan Estate at Bangchatra Road near the Raas Mela Maidan.

 

The first Raas Mela was organised in the regime of Maharaja Harendra Narayan in 1812. The Maharaja had moved into a new palace on Raas Purnima in that year and a Raas Mela was organised there on that occasion. In 1889, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan established the new Madan Mohan temple on the north bank of Bairagi Dighi. The austodhatoo-made idol of Lord Madan Mohan was shifted from the temple in palace complex to the new temple. From then on the Raas Mela is organised encircling the Madan Mohan temple, Bairagi Dighi and Raas Mela Maidan.