BARPETA, Nov 24 - The 78th Panchgram Raas Mahotsav will be celebrated at Baniyakuchi with a nine-day-long programme from November 25 to December 3. This was informed by Golak Deka and Bichitra Deka, president and secretary respectively of the Raas Puja celebration committee.
The programmes will begin with the hoisting of the flag by Golak Deka at 9 am on November 25 that will be followed by tributes to the departed souls by five senior citizens of the locality. Ceremonial lamps will be lit by five elderly persons at 5 pm the same day, while idols of the Radha-Krishna couple will be erected at 5:30 pm. The hom-jagya will be performed at 8 pm.
The gates of the exhibition, the main attraction of the festival, will be formally opened at 11 am on November 26 where Rita Deka, chairperson of the Assam State Marketing Corporation, will be the distinguished guest.
A special religious symposium will be held at 10:30 am on November 28 on the topic �Significance of Raaskrira, inherent ideals of the Bhagawata and its role on forming a healthy society�. Hembhai, founder of the Shanti Sadhana Ashram, Guwahati, will deliver the keynote address in the symposium. Harendra Nath Deka will be another speaker in the meeting.
A souvenir titled Brindaban will be released at 10 am on December 1 by Dr Ranjit Sabhapandit, associate professor of BBK College, Nagaon. A significant religious meeting to be held that day will be addressed by teenager Haridas Deoraja.
While several religious functions will be held every day, there will be enough scope for entertainment as well. It will come to an end with a cultural night on December 3.
