Gauhati University celebrates Raah Mahotsav with cultural extravaganza

Guwahati: Gauhati University was a hub of cultural celebration on Friday evening as the Post-Graduate Student Union (PGSU) organized a vibrant event in honour of Raas Mahotsav. The event, held at the Dr Banikanta Kakati Auditorium, featured a musical drama performed by students, depicting the life and journey of Lord Krishna, from his birth to his childhood, including the Raas Lila. The performance was a tribute to the neo-Vaishnavite saint and scholar Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by several distinguished guests, including Academy Award winner Ranjumani Shaikia, secretary of Srimanta Kalakshetra Sudarshan Tagore, director of student welfare Dr Ranjan Kumar Kakati, along with faculty and other dignitaries.

The event was meticulously planned by PGSU cultural secretaries, both current and former, Pankaj Medhi and Bandita Deka, with full support from the university authorities. Vice chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta and registrar Utpal Sarma, along with director of students welfare Ranjan Kakati, provided financial and logistical backing. “We helped PGSU financially to organise this program,” said Ranjan Kakati.

Gauhati University has a history of initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting Assamese culture, as seen in various programs such as varsity week cultural rallies and inter-college youth festivals. This year's Raah Mahotsav aimed to incorporate diverse Rash styles practiced across Assam. “The organizers try to incorporate all kinds of Raas style practice all over Assam in different parts, upper, lower, and middle,” Kakati added.

In Assam, Raas is celebrated in various forms depending on the region. In upper and middle Assam, it is celebrated as a dance drama known as Jibonto Raas, while in the lower region, Idol Raas is more prominent. “Gauhati University has students from all over Assam, so we try to portray all the varieties of Rash among students and audiences,” Kakati said.

This is not the first time Gauhati University has celebrated Raas. In 2004, the university’s law department organized a Rash Mahotsav program. “We are always trying to promote and practice more of our Assamese culture among the students,” PGSU stated.

The event saw students and audience members alike donning traditional Assamese attire, adding to the cultural ambiance of the evening.

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