Rash Mela in West Bengal is a festival celebrating the divine love of Sri Krishna and Radha.. Celebrated on the full moon day in Kartik month, the Rash Yatra is a procession with clay deities of Lord Krishna and Radha. The parade demonstrate the life of Lord Krishna, his various miracles and deeds. The Rash Mela is an annual fair that is very famous in the Nabadwip, Cooch Behar and Sundarbans.
Madan mohan Mandir Raash Pujo. This was the 203rd year. Kartik purnima – the brightest! Celebrating our God, Muralidhar, laddoo gopal, krishna. The patronage of the royal family made this grand puja possible. Krishna, Kali, Bhavani. Shakti , bhakti. The idols made of solid gold , this festival was started by Brijendra mohan.
Fascinating rituals. A mandir where Shakti and Krishna are revered side by side. Sarva dharma samanvay. Not only a goat but a Bull is sacrificed too. The ritual that caught my imagination was one of the Purohits moving in a circle with the beating of drums. On his head was a pot of mud, stones, some grass and incense which he threw on the ground. Maybe to discard our earthly possessions.
The Raash chakra like the Buddhist prayer wheel symbolises inclusion. It is truly secular. Traditionally it is made by the same Muslim family from Ghughumari. This Raash-Chakra is semi-cylindrical like structure made out of paper and bamboo/posts) symbolises brotherhood irrespective of the religious diversity
The ground was festooned with lights and flowers. The jhaanki, scenes from our scriptures , models were displayed. Sita,Ram, Bhishma . Raas lila, The playful Krishna flirting with his Radha and Gopis. Memories from childhood at my grandma’s mandir in Vrindavan
The DM by dint of his position as head of the trust offers havan and spins the Rash chakra first. Wishes granted.
A heartwarming beautiful once in a lifetime experience.

#vibhamitra
We stopped over at Baneswar temple. The Shivlinga here is split and symbolizes Ardhanariswar, Mukteswara. A God, yes but a God with his consort Shakti by his side. A 500 year old temple pristinely white. It had a pond inhabited by turtles as are other water bodies in this area. Turtle was the Avatar of Vishnu and it balanced Mount Mandara on its back. The nectar and other ratnas that emerged are folk lore. Locals actually believe these amphibians to be divine and I am sure they are closer to God in their simpler lives of absolute belief in the truth of existence and its origins