The Raas festival of the Hindu community was held at the Kuakata coast of Patuakhali through an observance of religious rituals on Monday.
Hindu devotees woke up and bathed in the water of Kuakata coast in the hope of getting rid of all their sins at 5:30am.
Men and women, wearing traditional dresses, with the place teeming with floating lamps, candles, incense, leaves, flowers, rice, green grass, hartiki, green coconut, banana, palm and sindur in the coastal water, took a bath.
At this time, the entire beach area resounded to the chanting of mantras and recitation from the holy books.
The devotees visited 17 pairs of deities at the mandirs of Kuakata coast. Although the Raas festival ended at Kuakata coast, but the Raas-Leela festival will continue for another five days at Sri Sri Madonmohan Sebashram in Kalapara .
Raas festival is one of the most important annual festivals in Hinduism.
Raas means eternal love from devotees for Almighty God.
A myth relates that Gopis’ love towards Lord Krishna was so pure and strong that Kamdeva (the god of love) was invited to observe Raas Leela in Vrindavana on the Sharada Purnima (autumnal full moon).
According to Bhagavat Purana, Lord Krishna performed His Raas (divine pleasure) Leela (play or sport) with Gopis (devotees of Lord Krishna) in Vrindavana, a place adorned with the natural beauties of Heaven.