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Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday has inaugurated the Majuli Raas Festival in Assam's river island district Majuli.
Assam Tourism department has promoted the Raas Festival of Majuli in a grand way at the national and international stage through extensive campaigns.
The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) has collaborated with popular social media site Instagram this year to reach out to more tourists within the country and abroad for Majuli Raas Festival.
Speaking at the inaugural programme, Assam Chief Minister Sonowal said that – "Majuli is a divine place and whoever comes to the river island during the Raas Festival receives blessings from Lord Krishna."
He also stressed on the need to build a society based on spirituality and moral values and urged the people of the state to lead a life guided by the ideals of Lord Krishna.
Calling the people of Majuli to show an example of generous hospitality to the visiting tourists, Sarbananda Sonowal said that – "Indian culture is based on the motto of 'atithi debo bhava'. Majuli's natural beauty, legacy, cultural heritage and history must be preserved and the people of Majuli have an important role to play in this regard, he said. Great personalities had spread the light of their wisdom in the society through spirituality and the young generation must imbibe those moral lessons to find true happiness and contentment in life."
Sonowal urged them to commit to the society and live their lives by the motto 'work is worship, duty is God'.
Referring to Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala terming Assam's culture as 'Krishna culture', the Assam Chief Minister said that the greater Assamese cultural identity is based on the image of Lord Krishna and his teachings.
"If we can realise the true essence of God's teachings, then we can take steps for preserving the earth," Sonowal said.
Sonowal inaugurated tented accommodations for tourists set up by Assam Tourism Development Corporation at the Raas Festival venue at Garamur.
He also unveiled the map of 58 Raas Festival venues in Majuli. Along with it, he felicitated the representatives of 58 Raas Festival organising committees of Majuli at the programme.
ATDC has set up a total of 100 tented accommodations at Garamur, Jengraimukh and Kamalabari in Majuli. At today's programme Garamur Xoru Satra performed a colourful dance form of Maharaas.
The dance performance depicted Lord Krishna's Raas Leela with the Gopini's of Vrindaban.
The Assam Chief Minister also inaugurated the 179th Raas Festival of Dakhinpat Satra, which is the oldest Raas Festival organised in Majuli.
He also attended Raas Festival at Uttar Kamalabari Satra among others.
Assam Cultural Affairs minister Naba Kumar Doley, MP Pradan Baruah, MLA Bimal Bora, ATDC Chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah, Vice Chairman Nabadeep Kalita, Chief Executive Member of Deuri Autonomous Council Madhab Deuri, Vice Canceller of Majuli University of Culture Dr. Dambarudhar Nath, Deputy Commisioner (DC) Majuli Bikram Kairi were also present in the programme among others.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
