NALBARI, Nov 13 � The famous Raas festival of Nalbari at Sri Sri Harimandir began with a 13-day programme after the inauguration of the main gate at 4.30 pm on November 10.
Union Minister for DoNER Paban Singh Ghatowar inaugurated the Nalbari Raas festival by cutting the ribbon of the main gate. Addressing the inaugural meeting, Ghatowar said that the spiritualism behind the clay models and the mammoth gathering of Nalbari Raas festival has created communal harmony among different caste, creed and religion. He added that the Nalbari Raas festival should get more exposure for national recognition.
Earlier, Ghatowar and the other guests of the inaugural function were welcomed to the Raas premises from the Nalbari Inspection Bungalow in a colourful cultural procession. The inaugural meeting was attended among others by Nilamani Sen Deka, Minister of Agriculture, Jayanta Malla Baruah, MLA of Nalbari, Dr Kandarpa Kumar Deka, vice chancellor, Dibrugarh University., Dr Kamal Malla Buzarbarua vice chancellor of Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat and Mathuramohan Talukdar, Satradhikar.
It may be mentioned here that the Nalbari Raas celebration committee has taken some special measures to attract the visitors. In Nalbari Raas three 25 feet high idols of Ram, Ravan and Hanuman are being installed. Eight electric gates are being displayed at the entrances of various link roads. Besides, 20 stalls containing the idols have been electrified. An artist of Chandan Nagar of Kolkata Uttam Bhaskar himself electrified the clay models of the Nalbari Raas. About one thousand idols have been displayed at around one hundred make shift stalls.
The Nalbari district administration has intensified security arrangement in the town during the Raas festival. On the other hand, the Raas celebration committee engaged 500 volunteers daily on rotation basis to help the visitors during the Raas. The Nalbari Raas festival will come into end on November 21 next.
