By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati :Majuli is one of the largest river islands in the world and the hotbed of Neo-Vaishnavism, a cultural movement that swept across it in the 15th century. With 22 Satras (Vaishnava monasteries) dedicated to celebrating the life of Lord Krishna, it instantly qualifies as the perfect stage for the grandest Raas Leela in India. For those unfamiliar with Sanskrit, Raas means emotion while Leela means play or enactment in the language of the Gods. Majuli’s Raas Mahotsav is, in all respects, an ode to the leelas of the many named God (Kanha, Govinda and Gopala are most common), many of which find mention during the plays. The prelude to the actual ceremony in itself is very colorful and engaging. Students from various Satras, all of who are sworn to celibacy, don their masks and practice Satryia dances and Borgeets (religious songs) in preparation for Bhaonas (plays) on the big days. Puppeteers limber up, loosening their fingers as they get ready to jiggle life into multi-colored dolls with flawless synchronization. Even local villagers from unrelated professions pitch in, tuning their vocal and instrumental skills to lend on the biggest festival that Majuli witnesses every year. As much importance as the plays hold in Raas Mahotsav, certain crafts also play a key role in making the festival successful. Crafts like mask making and puppetry, part of the Vaishnava tradition and practiced with great diligence to offer justice to their allies, dance and drama, are in full exhibition on these three days. The festival, when it finally opens to a packed audience, is so overwhelmingly captivating, apt words for its description may not always come by easily even for the most animated. More so when you find yourself in the presence of culture vultures from around the globe, and maybe even a few famous faces here and there. As if in conjunction, the effect of the leelas has also been known to get so spellbinding at times that even the Satra teachers can’t help but bow down before those playing Lord Krishna. Whistles reverberate and hands go up in unanimous claps as an atmosphere of glee floats around late into the night.Like bygone years, the world’s largest river island Majuli is getting ready for the upcoming Rass Mahotsav. Instead of Durga puja, the islanders observe the Rass-leela and hold Paal Naam (prayers) from the first week of November for over 20 days. According to mythology, Sri Dakhinpat Satra of Majuli is the birth place of Assam’s Rass festival.In the 65 existing Sattras, community halls, public places, Namghars (prayer halls) and in the schools, preparations are in full swing with sounds of khol (drum), taal (large sized cymbals), flute and conch shells which is audible from far and near. The Rass Mahotsav in autumn is also a great time to observe the traditional chanting, dances and drama recitations held in Majuli to celebrate the birth, life and feats of Krishna. Fifteenth century revered Assamese socio-cultural-religious reformer and Saint Srimanta Sankardeva and his disciple Madhavdeva who initiated Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture in Assam had made Majuli their hub by constructing many Satras or monasteries representing the colourful Assamese culture, historical documents state.