Hyderabad, August' 2003: Festivals symbolize people’s cultural, social and religious aspirations for fuller and better life. Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great fervour all over the country. It is celebrated in a big way in twin cities too on the twenty-third day in the month of Shravan as per Hindu calender (August/September). This day is celebrated in honour of Lord Krishna, being his birthday. The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu is observed by one and all. To mark the occasion and to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, Kaleidoscope Events organised‘Janmashtmi Raas Mahotsav’ on Friday and Saturday here at Classic Gardens, Secunderabad. The mahotsav concluded on Sunday.

Dr. Bade Thakur Ji Maharaj of Vrindavan fame performed Raas Leela along with his eighty member troupe. They enacted the divine episodes of Lord Krishna, which are said to be lilas which in course of time came to be known as the Raaslila. According to the Bhagwat Purana, Shri Krishna along with the gopis had danced the Raas on the banks of the Yamuna at Vrindavan. When the gopis felt conceited about Lord Krishna dancing with them, he disappeared from their midst. In the agony of separation from the beloved Krishna, the gopis recalled and enacted his lilas (divine episodes of his life). The charming childhood pranks of Shri Krishna constitute the main theme of these dramas.

Dr. Bade Thakur Ji is an artist of international repute with hundreds of performances in India and abroad performed in city for the first time to well over 5000 audience in all the three days put together.

Raas Leela is a theatrical form prevailing in the Western Parts of U.P., specially the Agra Region which is known as Brij area. This art form is associated with the life of Lord Krishna who is revered by the Hindus as the incarnation of God Vishnu. The event was a transfusion to tradition. It was a mixture of tradition and modernity. Scenes were enacted from Lord Krishna’s early life. Raas Mahotsav will recapture all these acts lively to the audience. It was a Lyrical ex-pressions of Braj culture which is quite popular to the certain sects of Indian masses for over hundreds of years.

The Raas Mahotsav was a refreshing change to the audience of twin cities. During the Raas Mahotsav, The Krishna Leela - stories of his eventful youth were enacted. The highlights of the Mahotsav include ‘Phoolon ki Holi’, ‘Makhan Chori’, ‘Narsi Charitra’, ‘Narsi ka Bhaat’, ‘Nanibai ka Mayera’, ‘Shri Krishn Janm’ and many more.
 

-MK
Reachout's News Bureau
August' 2003

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