There is a proverb in Bengali that goes like this: Bengalis have thirteen rituals in twelve months. Many festivals are part of the Bengali traditions. One such festival is Raas Utsav. There are many legends about this festival in different places. Many say that Lord Krishna and Radha indulge in love with their gopis during this holy festival.
Following the nightfall, Raas Utsava will be celebrated with great splendour in Sri Chaitanya's birthplace. According to tradition, preparations are going on in full swing at Nabadwip around this Raas festival. Starting from decorating the pandal to giving the final touch to the theme are going on hours before nightfall.
Shakta and Vaishnavism meet during this Raas festival of Nabadwip. On this auspicious day, on the one hand, the puja of the goddess of power goes on. On the other hand, the puja of the twin idols of Radha-Krishna carries on in the Vaishnava style.
Along with the large-scale rituals, the names of Lord Krishna and Radha are enchanted. According to the calendar, the auspicious time of Rasutsav this year begins at 10:38 PM on Tuesday when the full moon will take place, and it will continue till 6:49 PM on Wednesday, November 5.
After the Durga Puja festival, all the preparations for Raas start from the day of Lakshmi Puja in Chaitanya Bhumi Nabadwip. The main feature of Raas here is the huge idol of the goddess. The idol is so huge that it requires looking up to see the goddess clearly. The huge Barama puja in Naihati is inspired by the idol of Nabadwip.
Raas started in Nabadwip from the time of Chaitanyadeva. Basically, this festival became famous from the beginning of the 16th century. Every year on the occasion of Raas Utsav, people flock to the pilgrimage city.
King Krishnachandra played a special role in this puja. It is said that the power of the Vaishnavas was increasing day by day in Nabadwip. Shakta devotees came to report the complaint of that incident to the Raja.
The king then came up with a trick. He suggested that everyone worship everyone's respective deities on the full moon of the month of Kartika. In fact, the main purpose of the king was to practice the custom of worshipping Krishnawhere Kali Puja can be performed.
On Tuesday night, according to Shakta norms, various gods and goddesses, including Kali, Shiva, and other gods will be worshipped. According to custom, on Wednesday is Navami. Puja will continue on that day as well. There is a procession on Thursday. Starting from each barwari idol, the puja committees of the neighbourhood circle the streets of Nabadwip with their idols. Ras Carnival is the new addition to the Ras of Nabadwip in the present era.
