The Manipuri community residing in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar is actively engaged in preparing for the upcoming Maha Rasleela festival. Scheduled for November 5, the occasion coincides with Ras Purnima, a significant date for the community.
The atmosphere is filled with the sounds of drums, ceremonial bells, songs, and dance rhythms, setting the stage for the community’s most important religious and cultural event that pays tribute to devotion and happiness through a fusion of customs.
This year, two major festivities are on the agenda – the 183rd Maha Ras festival of the Bishnupriya (Manipuri) community at Jora Mandap in Madhabpur, and the 40th Maha Ras festival of the Meetoi (Manipuri) community at the Adampur Manipuri Cultural Complex.
Community elders recount that King Bhagyachandra of Manipur was the pioneer of the Maha Ras festival, with the inaugural celebration outside Manipur taking place in 1842 at Madhabpur in Kamalganj upazila.
The festival commences with the Gosthaleela or Rakhal Dance from daybreak to sunset, leading up to the main event, Sri Sri Krishna’s Maha Rasleela, starting around 11:30 pm and continuing until dawn. Dancers clad in traditional costumes perform devotional dances honoring Lord Krishna.
Prominent Manipuri author Sonaton Hamom emphasized that the Rasleela holds significance not only as a religious event but also as a deeply rooted cultural tradition for the Manipuri community.
Kamalganj UNO Makhon Chandra Sutradhar assured that stringent security measures have been implemented to guarantee a peaceful and secure celebration.