Śāktô Rāsa (Śākta Rāsa, Shaakta Raash, Shaakta Raasa or Shaakto Raas; Bengali: শাক্তরাস) is the most celebrated festival of Nabadwip, West Bengal, India. This festival is celebrated thirty-five days after the autumnal Durgā Pūjā celebration or fifteen days after Kālī Pūjā in Kartik Purnima. To the people of Nabadwip, Rash Festival is everything. The entire commonwealth eagerly waits for this festival all the year round.[1]
The main features of Nabadwip Rash are to make huge Mūrtis with clay and to worship Shakti. Every Mūrti has an artistic design, a variety of imagination, religious discourse, and deep understanding of the scholars, which help entertain innumerable people.[2] Cartoonist Chandi Lahiri said that the hugeness of clay Mūrtis differs from any other festival as Nabadwip's Mūrtis are shapely and symmetric despite their light weight and enormous proportions.
Ras festival mainly part of Vaishnavism. In the time of Chaitanya deb or some years earlier, Rash Yatra was started in Nabadwip. But it was Vaishnabic festival. Shakta ras is totally different from that. Sakta Ras festival may be older than Vaishnava Ras, because in the beginning, idols were worshipped in Patachitra. During the time of Krishnachandra and mainly Girishchandra, Nabadwip Rash yatra became popular. Krishna Chandra and Girishchandra spent much money to popularise the festival and since then worshipping started through clay idol.[3]
Girish Chandra Basu highlighted the first glimpse of Nabadwip Ras. In 1853–1860, he was a daroga of Nabadwip-Shantipur and Krishnanagar. In his book Sekaler Daroga Kahini (published 1888 AD), he wrote various socio-cultural reports along with the geographical location of the Nabadwip of that time.[4]
Kali puja and Ras festival
Nabadwip is a sanctum of Tantra. Many Shakta and Tantra philosophers worshipped Devi kali even before the Shakta Ras Festival began. Later these Kali idols were worshipped in Ras festival. Since the twelfth or fourteenth century, tantra has been enriched with tendance of Tantra philosophers throughout Bengal.[clarification needed]
Documentation of early days of Shakta ras is very rare as flood and earthquake hit several times. Although Girish Chandra Basu and Kanti Chandra Rari gave glimpse of Shakta ras in early days.
Girish Chandra Basu
Girish Chandra Basu, Daroga of Nabadwip-Shantipur-Krishnagar, wrote "Sekaler Daroga Kahini, where he described socio-cultural view of Nadia. He wrote,
During ras utsav people were gathered in Shantipur, similarly in Nabadwip lots of people came to see Potpuja and various cultural programme is being held. This Potpuja is famous in Nabadwip. Though its name is Potpuja but actually worshiping has done through making clay idol of various deity. Among them, Durga, Bindhyabasini, Kali, Jagadhatri, Annapurna were very famous. This idol are very light weighted. Five or six people can easily bear in the shoulder, even they can easily dance with it.
Description
Girish Babu's description gives an idea about 19th century Ras utsav. Bindhyobasini was worshiped in Purangunge. This place is now ruined. In 1853-60 he saw Purangunge in right place. After that in 1871 Purangunge was ruined by Ganga due to erosion. Then Bindhyabasini deity transferred to Sribasangan. But due to some internal problem puja committee had split into two organising committees. And one committee worshiped Bindhyabasini in Sribasangan and other one started Gourangini puja near Jognathtala.
Kanti Chandra Rari
Historian Kanti Chandra Rari also wrote about Nabadwip Ras in his book Nabadwip Mahima. There he confirmed that Shakta Ras jatra had been celebrated since long year back. He wrote,
Superpower of Hindumythology, Devi Bhagabati has been worshipped in different form in Nabadwip during Ras Purnima. Next day after puja, people from the nearest place came to watch idols. Also Maharaja of Nadia came to see and he encouraged this festival by giving award for making outstanding idol. For that purpose an organising committee brought there idol in Porama tala. There Maharaj judges the structure of idol, ornaments (called in Bengali as Saj, সাজ) etc and then decided the award to best one.
নবদ্বীপের মূর্তির বিশালৎবের মধ্যেও প্রতিটি অংশের সুষমা অক্ষুন্ন রাখা, বিভিন্ন দেবতার শাস্ত্রীয় কল্পনাকে মাটির সাহায্যে বাস্তবে রূপায়িত করা বিশ্বের যে কোন দেশের পক্ষে যুগপৎ বিস্ময় ও গৌরবের বস্তু।
Translation:- It is a matter of simultaneous wonder and pride for any country in the world to keep the balance of each part (of the Mūrti) intact even amidst the enormity of the Mūrtis of Navadwip; to make the Śāstra-conforming imagination of different divine entities a reality with the help of clay.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nabadwip Shakta Ras Jatra.
^Rashmi published by Nabadwip Adarsha Pathagar, January 1997, pg: 86-86
March 08, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Shakta Rash news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Sakto Rasa Sakta Rasa Shaakta Raash Shaakta Raasa or Shaakto Raas Bengali শ ক তর স is the most celebrated festival of Nabadwip West Bengal India This festival is celebrated thirty five days after the autumnal Durga Puja celebration or fifteen days after Kali Puja in Kartik Purnima To the people of Nabadwip Rash Festival is everything The entire commonwealth eagerly waits for this festival all the year round 1 Sakto RasaDumureshwari Mata in Nabadwip Rash JatraAlso calledPot Purnima Rash Kali Puja Rash JatraObserved byBengali Shakta HinduTypeBengali Shakta HinduCelebrationsPuja Boli Bali Animal Sacrifice in some places Arong the immersing of MurtisObservancesTo make Murtis with clay and to pay obeisances and worship Shakti in Kartik PurnimaBeginsBeginning with Pata Puja and Actual festivities start after Durga puja and Lakshmi pujaEndsAfter Rash Purnima or Kartik Purnima with celebrating immersion named Arong 1 Date30 November 2020 19 November 2021 according to Traditional Bengali Hindu CalendarThe main features of Nabadwip Rash are to make huge Murtis with clay and to worship Shakti Every Murti has an artistic design a variety of imagination religious discourse and deep understanding of the scholars which help entertain innumerable people 2 Cartoonist Chandi Lahiri said that the hugeness of clay Murtis differs from any other festival as Nabadwip s Murtis are shapely and symmetric despite their light weight and enormous proportions Contents 1 Historical groundings 2 Kali puja and Ras festival 3 Conflict with Vaishnavism 4 Shakta ras in early days 4 1 Girish Chandra Basu 4 2 Description 4 3 Kanti Chandra Rari 5 Glory of the Murtis 6 ReferencesHistorical groundings EditRas festival mainly part of Vaishnavism In the time of Chaitanya deb or some years earlier Rash Yatra was started in Nabadwip But it was Vaishnabic festival Shakta ras is totally different from that Sakta Ras festival may be older than Vaishnava Ras because in the beginning idols were worshipped in Patachitra During the time of Krishnachandra and mainly Girishchandra Nabadwip Rash yatra became popular Krishna Chandra and Girishchandra spent much money to popularise the festival and since then worshipping started through clay idol 3 Girish Chandra Basu highlighted the first glimpse of Nabadwip Ras In 1853 1860 he was a daroga of Nabadwip Shantipur and Krishnanagar In his book Sekaler Daroga Kahini published 1888 AD he wrote various socio cultural reports along with the geographical location of the Nabadwip of that time 4 Kali puja and Ras festival EditNabadwip is a sanctum of Tantra Many Shakta and Tantra philosophers worshipped Devi kali even before the Shakta Ras Festival began Later these Kali idols were worshipped in Ras festival Since the twelfth or fourteenth century tantra has been enriched with tendance of Tantra philosophers throughout Bengal clarification needed Conflict with Vaishnavism EditIn the early 16th century some Vaishnavite scholars started the Vaishnavic movement So it was an obvious conflict with Shakta followers who were worshipping Tantra Shakta ras in early days EditDocumentation of early days of Shakta ras is very rare as flood and earthquake hit several times Although Girish Chandra Basu and Kanti Chandra Rari gave glimpse of Shakta ras in early days Girish Chandra Basu Edit Girish Chandra Basu Daroga of Nabadwip Shantipur Krishnagar wrote Sekaler Daroga Kahini where he described socio cultural view of Nadia He wrote During ras utsav people were gathered in Shantipur similarly in Nabadwip lots of people came to see Potpuja and various cultural programme is being held This Potpuja is famous in Nabadwip Though its name is Potpuja but actually worshiping has done through making clay idol of various deity Among them Durga Bindhyabasini Kali Jagadhatri Annapurna were very famous This idol are very light weighted Five or six people can easily bear in the shoulder even they can easily dance with it Description Edit Girish Babu s description gives an idea about 19th century Ras utsav Bindhyobasini was worshiped in Purangunge This place is now ruined In 1853 60 he saw Purangunge in right place After that in 1871 Purangunge was ruined by Ganga due to erosion Then Bindhyabasini deity transferred to Sribasangan But due to some internal problem puja committee had split into two organising committees And one committee worshiped Bindhyabasini in Sribasangan and other one started Gourangini puja near Jognathtala Kanti Chandra Rari Edit Historian Kanti Chandra Rari also wrote about Nabadwip Ras in his book Nabadwip Mahima There he confirmed that Shakta Ras jatra had been celebrated since long year back He wrote Superpower of Hindu mythology Devi Bhagabati has been worshipped in different form in Nabadwip during Ras Purnima Next day after puja people from the nearest place came to watch idols Also Maharaja of Nadia came to see and he encouraged this festival by giving award for making outstanding idol For that purpose an organising committee brought there idol in Porama tala There Maharaj judges the structure of idol ornaments called in Bengali as Saj স জ etc and then decided the award to best one Glory of the Murtis EditCartoonist Chandi Lahiri said about the glory of the Murtis worshiped in Nabadwip Rash jatra 5 6 নবদ ব প র ম র ত র ব শ লৎব র মধ য ও প রত ট অ শ র স ষম অক ষ ন ন র খ ব ভ ন ন দ বত র শ স ত র য কল পন ক ম ট র স হ য য ব স তব র প য ত কর ব শ ব র য ক ন দ শ র পক ষ য গপৎ ব স ময ও গ রব র বস ত Nobodbiper murtir bisalotber modhye ō protiṭi onser suṣoma okṣunno rakha bibhinno debotar sastriẏo kolponake maṭir sahajye bastobe rupaẏito kora bisber je kōno deser pokṣe jugopot bismoẏ ō gourober bostu Translation It is a matter of simultaneous wonder and pride for any country in the world to keep the balance of each part of the Murti intact even amidst the enormity of the Murtis of Navadwip to make the Sastra conforming imagination of different divine entities a reality with the help of clay References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nabadwip Shakta Ras Jatra a b র স পর বর তন র ছ য খ শ নবদ ব প Anandabazar Patrika in Bengali Retrieved 2018 07 06 About Rash History Nabadwip oxford of old east sites google com Retrieved 2017 12 22 Nadia Kahini addition pg 372 Basu Girish Chandra স ক ল র দ র গ ক হ ন Sekaler Daroga Kahini Mrityunjoy Mandal January 2013 Nabadwiper Itibritto Nabadwip Nadia NABADWIP SAHITYO SAMAJ p 157 Rashmi published by Nabadwip Adarsha Pathagar January 1997 pg 86 86 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shakta Rash amp oldid 1066051910, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
