Md. Mosabbir Ali. back from Kamalganj

Manipuri Maharasalila, the main religious festival of the Manipuri community, has begun on Friday (Nov 14) in Kamalganj, Moulvibazar.

Ras festival has been organized in Madhavpur and Adampur areas of Kamalganj in two separate places of Manipuris in view of Purnima Tithi. On this occasion, a big fair will be held in both places.

All preparations have already been completed for the occasion. There will be decorum in the area. Extensive security measures have been taken by the administration. 182nd Bishnupriya Manipuri community organized by Manipuri Maharasalila Seva Sangh at Madhavpur Shibbazar Jora Mandape of Upazila And the 39th Maharas festival of Maitai Manipuri community will be held at Adampur Manipuri Cultural Complex premises.

The air of festival is blowing in Manipuri dominated villages and neighborhoods of Kamalganj. Gosthalila or shepherd dance will be held at both places on Friday afternoon and discussion meeting, meritorious reception and race dance will be held at night. The venue is Madhavpur Gosthlaila and Rakhal dance will be held in the open stage area of Shivbazar.

Maharasalila is the main essence of rasa in Jor Mandape at night. On the other hand, there will be Rakhal dance and Rasalila as usual at Adampur. However, Manipuri Bishnupriya and Manipuri Maitai are held at different places, but the essence of the festival, the talk of juice, the joy and prayer are all the same. The theme of the festival is world peace, harmony and true human love. It is known that strict security measures have been taken on the occasion of Ras. Preparations for Rasotsav have been going on for about a month in Kamalganj. To make the Rasa festival a success, training and rehearsals of Rasa dance and Rakhalana dance take place in several houses for almost a month.

Prabhas Chandra Singh, research officer of Manipuri Lalitkala Academy, said that Raja Bhagya Chandra of Manipur first introduced this rasamela in Manipur. The first Maharas festival was held outside Manipur in 1842 at Madhavpur in Kamalganj. In the morning of the festival of Ras, 'Gosthlaila' or 'Rakhalanritya' is performed.

Shepherd dance the main part of the Rasa festival starts from 12:00 PM followed by the Maharasalila of Sri Krishna. The Rasalila continues till dawn with Krishna Bandanas dancing and singing in Manipuri's traditional dance costumes. Krishna, Radha and about 50 gopis are present in the dance. The number of gopis is many times Is more or less.

A grand gathering of Manipuri culture turns into a fair centered on a Rajni. For the past few days, Madhavpur of Kamalganj upazila and Manipuri Para of Adampur have been in the mood of preparation and festival centered on Ras festival. Mandaps are being decorated with new colors.

Dress up Gosthalila or Rakhal dance will be held at Shivbazar open stage area of festival venue Madhavpur at noon on the day of Ras. Maharasalila is the main essence of rasa in Jor Mandape at night. Thousands of people from other castes, religions, along with the people of Manipuri community will join in the joyous festival.

People from Manipuri community come from different parts of the country to enjoy the festival. Iftekhar Hossain, OC of Kamalganj police station, said that on the occasion of Manipuri Maharasalila, the police administration Extensive security measures have been adopted since. Along with the police, army and RAB patrols will also be there to ensure a smooth festival.