Worship, festivity through the night

This year too, the traditional Ras festival was observed in Patuakhali's Kuakata through a night-long worship and bathing in the sea. After being stopped for the last two years due to the pandemic, this three-day religious festival ended at Kuakata Radhakrishna Temple and Tirthoyatri Sevashram yesterday.

The number of people attending the festival increased this year. Kuakata was crowded with devotees, pilgrims and visitors on the shores of the Bay on Ras Purnima.

About half a million devotees as well as tourists gathered there for the festivities.

Five hundred members of various police units were deployed for overall security.

Santos Kumar Paul from Kalaiya area of Patuakhali's ​​Baufal said Ras festival wasn't held for two consecutive years due to the pandemic. "This time I worshipped in the temple all night and worshipped in the sea in the morning. I prayed to God for forgiveness of all sins."

Dibkar Chandra Halder, another devotee from Barishal's Banaripara, said the festival was organised beautifully.

On Sunday at 9:00pm, Ras Puja rituals began. On Monday evening, the formal opening of the festival took place at the temple grounds.

President of Temple Committee and Mayor of Kalapara Municipality Bipul Haldar presided over a meeting, while Muhibbur Rahman, lawmaker for Patuakhali-4, was the chief guest.

Nihar Ranjan Mandal, general secretary of Kuakata Sri Sri Radhakrishna Temple, said on the occasion of Ras Purnima, devotees make offerings at the feet of the 17 pairs of Radha-Krishna idols in this temple.

He said in this year's festival, more than half a million devotees and visitors gathered.

Assistant Superintendent of Tourist Police Abdul Khalek said, "We've made adequate security arrangements to make Ras festival secure and enjoyable. Devotees have been able to participate in the festival and perform religious activities with joy."

Motaleb Sharif, general secretary of Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association, said tourism-related businesses benefited during this season due to the festival.

Kalapara UNO Shankar Chandra Baidya said the upazila administration tried its best to ensure security for devotees.