MAJULI, Oct 17 - During the Durga Puja festivities, when people in other parts of the State were busy in celebrations, Majuli kept quiet.
But now, the festive season has virtually begun in river island Majuli, as it is going to observe Raas and Paal Naam, the two main festivals, not only of this island, but also of the State, in November. In fact, Majuli has already begun preparations to observe Raas, one of the main festivals here.
Though Lakshmi Puja is celebrated throughout Majuli, but the festivities have not been able to surpass that of Raas.
It may be interesting to note that Raas has been celebrated in Majuli since 176 years now. It was started by the 13th Satradhikar of Dakhinpat Satra, Basudev Goswami. Traditionally, the drama of Raas in Majuli starts on the eve of the auspicious occasion of Lakshmi Puja. This year, along with Satras like Kamalabari, Bengenati, Garamur, Auniati, Bhogpur, Bihimpur, Dakhinpat etc., Raas will also be held in 51 other stages all over the world�s largest inhabited river island. When other parts of the country celebrate Lakshmi Puja, Majuli, along with Lakshmi Puja, also puts its first step towards the celebration of Raas festival by ceremonially opening its drama.
It may perhaps be pertinent to add here that the river islanders have to confront much more problems than the others, like loss of lives, property and damage to cultivation by repeated waves of floods, besides the ever-existing fear of river bank erosion by the turbulent Brahmaputra, problem of surface communication with other parts of country, lack of superior medical facilities, and so on.
Not surprisingly, Majulians use these festivals as a balm to nurse their wounds, as they are helpless in the face of these perennial problems as successive governments have not adopted time-tested fool-proof measures to solve them on a permanent basis.
A spiritual ambience pervades the river this time of the year as almost every individual is connected in some way or the other with the celebration of this festival.
Further, the people of Majuli have also begun preparations to welcome guests and tourists to the river island during the festive season.
