About 200 years old three nights and two days long traditional Ras ustav and Ras mela, one of the biggest festival for the communities living in the country’s southern region, began in Kuakata coast yesterday.
The festival also opens the fishing season in the region.
Several thousands of people join and enjoy the biggest celebration.
The Ras festival and fair began in Kuakata coast at the moment of Ras Purnima and it would be formally ended on Sunday dawn.
Devotees believe that the bathing in the bay during this festival would wipe out all their sins.
A two-day long Ras mela has been arranged on this occasion including cultural programs and religious rituals.
The festival also celebrated simultaneously at Dublar Char and in the Sundarbans.
Meanwhile, replicas of eight pairs of idols of Lord Krishna and Lady Radha, God and Goddess of Hindu community, have been set up at a temporary Mandop at the beach.
Various programmes including Kirton (songs in praise of Radha-Krishna), religious discussion side by side of the rituals of Ghat Puja, Bisarjan and Ganga Snan also observed during the festival.
The mela will conclude tomorrow, Uttam Kumar, secretary of Ras utsav and mela observance committee, said.
Besides, the member of the Hindu community amid great enthusiasm and religious flavour had celebrated the festival since 1927 at the Khepupara Sree Sree Madan Mohan Sebasram.
Bhupendranath and Kamalendu Howladar of Madan Mohan Sebasram said 16 pairs of images of Radha-Govinda at the temples of Radha-Govinda and Madanmohon Seba Ashram have been established and colourfully decorated on the occasion.
Liakat Ali, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kalapara, said members of the navy, coast guard, rapid action battalion, police, Bangladesh rifles and forest division have been deployed.
