NALBARI, Nov 12 - With the full moon night of autumn round the corner, the people of Nalbari are bracing up to celebrate the 13-day Raas festival, a famous religious and cultural event of the North-east to be held at the Hari Mandir premises from November 14 to 26.
The Raas Celebration Committee has fixed a budget of Rs 40 lakh to celebrate the festival in a grand manner. A festive mood is gradually picking up in Nalbari town in particular and the entire district in general and the celebration committee has been working round-the-clock to make it more attractive with some new inclusions.
The secretary of the Raas Celebration Committee Manoj Kumar Choudhury told this correspondent that the committee has taken some special measures to draw the attention of visitors this time. Choudhury further said that about 10 idol-makers have been engaged in idol-making for display during the Raas. They have newly made and repaired more than 800 idols for display in about 100 temporary stalls at the Raas. The stalls are under construction for the installation of the idols which depict different episodes from the eventful life of Lord Krishna.
The committee has decided to erect 11 electrified gates with sophisticated devices, specially bought from Siliguri-based electricians to welcome the visitors. He added that the committee has decided to engage more than 1000 volunteers to help the visitors who will come to witness the festival from different parts of the State. A total of 40 women police personnel in civvies will also be engaged to look after the law-and-order situation. A total 97 close circuit cameras (CC cameras) will also be installed at different important places of the town to monitor the law-and-order situation. The main entrance of the Raas festival will be decorated as the model of �Samudra Manthan� and �Radha-Krishna�.
The 83rd Raas festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on November 14 at 6 pm. The other guests of the inaugural function are Rajen Gohain, Union Minister of State for Railways, Chandra Mohan Patowary, State Minister of Industries and Transport, Ramen Deka, MP of Mangaldai, among others. Renowned litterateur Dr Rita Choudhury will release the souvenir to be brought out on the occasion. Guests will be brought to the main venue in a colourful cultural procession from the Nalbari Inspection bungalow before the inaugural function.
