NALBARI, Nov 30 - The 78th Raas festival of Nalbari Sri Sri Harimandir began on Sunday with a three-day programme maintaining the COVID-19 protocol. The Raas festival was inaugurated by Dilip Saikia, MP of Mangaldai Lok Sabha constituency.
In his inaugural speech, Saikia said that the Nalbari Raas festival has been promoting cultural and communal harmony in the State every year.
The inaugural meeting, presided over by Baneswar Das, president of Nalbari Raas celebration committee, was addressed by Maniram Das, Prasarak of Srimanta Sankardev Sangha; Ashok Sarma, MLA of Nalbari LAC; Jayanta Malla Baruah, chairman of Assam Tourism Development Corporation; Amanjit Kaur, Superintendent of Police, Nalbari; popular artistes Jatin Bora and Bidya Sagar, among others.
Earlier, Purabi Konwar, Deputy Commissioner of Nalbari district, lit the ceremonial lamp.
The secretary of Nalbari Sri Sri Harimandir Management Committee, Nagen Deka, told this correspondent that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Nalbari Raas festival was reduced to a three-day event and only three stalls have been erected to perform the rituals.
It may be mentioned here that usually the Nalbari Raas festival is celebrated with 13 days of colourful programmes.
