Assam’s Raas Mahotsav Set to Attract Global Devotees

Sasanka Talukdar reports

The Assam government is taking major steps to showcase the state’s famous Raas Mahotsav — the annual festival devoted to Lord Krishna — to an international audience. As part of the plan, a special tourism circuit will be created to connect the main Raas destinations of Majuli, Palasbari, Nalbari, Patacharkuchi, and Pathsala.

Speaking during the inauguration of a newly built Krishna temple at Pathsala, Assam’s Tourism Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that the initiative aims to attract both domestic and foreign tourists by highlighting the cultural richness of Assam’s Raas celebrations. He mentioned that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state government has provided financial assistance to Raas Mahotsav committees across Assam to strengthen the festival’s infrastructure and outreach.

Dass recently inaugurated a new Shree Krishna temple at Pathsala, built at a cost of Rs 2 crore, which he believes will serve as an additional attraction for visitors. “In Assam, we try to recreate the divine atmosphere of Brindaban during Raas Mahotsav. In Upper Assam, the festival features live enactments of Raaslila, while in Lower Assam, clay idols depicting Krishna’s life are displayed,” he explained.

According to Dass, Majuli has already become a well-known tourist destination, and the government now plans to draw similar attention to the Raas Mahotsav celebrations in Lower Assam. Emphasizing the cultural importance of the festival, he added, “Assam is the sacred land of Lord Krishna and Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva. Through these initiatives, we aim to turn Raas Mahotsav into a major tourism hub recognized globally.