Kamalganj (Moulvibazar) Correspondent

In the colourful arrangement, the Purnima Tithi of Karthik was celebrated on the morning of Tuesday (November 28) in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar, surrounded by the Lord Shri Krishna and his friend Radharlila, the incarnation of the Hindu religion, with loud cheers, joy and excitement, banging of drums, shells and conch shells.

Maharasalila is the main religious festival of the Manipuri community in Madhavpur and Adampur. Rasotsav is visited by thousands of devotees regardless of caste, religion, caste and foreign tourists.

On the occasion of this biggest festival of the Manipuri community, a Manipuri textile exhibition and a huge fair were held in the premises of the Manipuri Lalitkala Academy and in the Shibbazar area. On Monday afternoon, the Rasalila started with Rakhal dance at both places in Kamalganj. Forgetting caste, religion and caste, lakhs of people gathered together. As all kinds of facilities were available, the Raslila here took the form of a big festival.

From 12 noon on Monday, thousands of people of various professions including men and women, children and teenagers appeared in Kamalganj from different parts of the country. The Manipuri village became lively from morning with their walk. The festival ends at dawn on Tuesday. The ceremony ends with sunrise.

The Maharasotsav was organized by the Manipuri Mee-Tai community in two other Mandap premises including Bishnupriya Manipuri and Manipuri Cultural Complex of Adampur in Madhavpur Jora Mandap premises of Kamalganj Upazila.

Strict security arrangements were made by the administration like every other time around Ras festival. There was a huge fair with various arrangements. Thousands of fans and tourists from different places of the country and abroad have come here to join the festival.

The law and order forces have to struggle to control the crowd.Madhavpur (Shibbazar) A discussion meeting and cultural program was held at night on the occasion of the 181st anniversary of Bishnupriya Manipurira under the initiative of Manipuri Maharasalila Seva Sangh at Joramandap premises. Sylhet Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Devjit Singh was present as the chief guest in the event chaired by Manipuri Maharasalila Seva Sangh President Yogeshwar Singh and moderated by General Secretary Shyam Singh and Nirmal Singh Palash. Sylhet Division Additional DIG (Admin & Finance) Syed Harun Or Rashid, Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Dr. were present as honored guests. Urmi Binte Salam, Superintendent of Police Md. Manjur Rahman, PPM (Bar), Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Joynal Abedin. Madhavpur UP Chairman Asid Ali, President of Manipuri Samaj Kalyan Samiti, heroic freedom fighter Anand Mohan Sinha and others spoke among others.

On the other hand, at the initiative of Adampur Manipuri Maharas Utsav Utsav Parishad under the chairmanship of committee convenor Thaunaojam Niranjan Singh and member secretary poet Sanatan Hamom, Maitai attended the discussion meeting of Manipuri community in Adampur Manipuri Cultural Complex premises and inaugurated the cultural program of Manipuri Rasotsav as the chief guest. Secretary Mokammel Hossain. Planning Ministry Secretary Satyajit Karmakar was present as the guest of honour. Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board (Additional Secretary) Abu Taher Muhammad Jaber, Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Dr. was the special guest.

Urmi Binte Salam, Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Joynal Abedin, Treasurer of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra Cultural Foundation Takhelambam Erabat, Director of Mutua Museum Mutua Bahadur.General Secretary of Manipuri Maharasalila Seva Sangh Shyam Singh said, Madhavpur Joramandap Rasotsav is an exceptional event in Sylhet division.

Everyone comes here regardless of caste and religion. All come together in the traditional Raas festival of the Manipuri community, rich in colorful art. Maharas, the main phase of the festival, begins around 12 midnight at Joramandape (three adjacent mandapes) in Shibbazar and Sana Tagore mandape in Tetigaon (presently there are two different stages of rasas). There are many types of Raslilas of Manipuri. Nityaras, Kunjaras, Vasantharas, Maharas, Beniras or Divaras. Maharas are also called Purnimaras by Manipuris as it occurs on the autumn full moon tithi.

Madhavpur and Adampur of Kamalganj upazila of Manipuri-dominated Moulvibazar district get a response to the festival in the last part of Ashwin month. People of Manipuri community of upazila along with people of other communities also participate in this one-day joyous festival.