SUALKUCHI, Dec 15 � The Raas festival with twelve-day programme organised by Sarbajanin Raas Mahotsav Udjapan Samiti Sualkuchi concluded on December 9.
The festival begun with flag hoisting by Jachpal Kalita, president of the celebration committee on November 28 which was followed by inauguration of the office of the celebration committee by Munindra Nath Kakati, Adviser of the college.
In the afternoon, a cultural procession was taken out to mark the Raas festival. Bijoya Chakrabartty, MP flagged off the procession and said that the Raas festival at Sualkuchi would draw the attention of the people of Assam for its celebrity. Supriya Kumar Roy, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup inaugurated the main mandop of Raas and Dinesh Baishya, adviser of the committee illuminated the lamps at the mandap.
The other programme of the first day included fire works, illumination at different stalls of idols depicting in the purana and the Bhagawat.
This time the festival drew massive response of the people who enjoyed the festival every day till mid night. The decorated stalls with idols, different amusing funs for the children circus, cinema show etc. were the time pass amusement for the people. Besides a large number of the people were busy with gamblings in the raasmela.
Cultural shows, religious discourse dance competitions etc. organised by the celebration committee drew the attraction of some section of people. This time the State Education department stationed a mobile laboratory cum library for the children of the elementary standard infront of the Raas mandap. The library consisting of 500 books on different areas provided ample opportunity to the rural children to make themselves acquainted with these areas of knowledge.
The celebration committee, for the first time organised a religious discourse in the Raas mela premises on December 2. Hemchandra Bharali, retd Deputy Director, Sports and Youth Welfare, Assam presided over the discourse while Hem Bhai noted Gandhian leader and social worker participated in the deliberation as the appointed speaker. Rajib Lochan Santa, Satradhikar Iswar Sri Sri Hati Satra and Bhupen Bharali participated in the discussion as speakers. Krishnamrit the mouth piece of the celebration was brought out on the occasion. Surya Hazarika, distinguished cine director released the mouth piece.
On December 3, Bhupendra Sangeet competition was held.
