Moyna Rasmela has an entity of its own; it is quite different in character from other fairs or melas. In it intermingled are the antiquatedness and age-old tradition.
Rasmela Nocturnal Rasyatra by boat, Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik
In the said confluence the grandeur of natural beauty has laid its own stream. The uniqueness of the mela is still not exhausted. The suzerainty of the royal family is no longer there; people from all walks of life have joined hands to lend it a popular or universal character.
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When the sovereign king of Orissa bestowed `Rajtika' on the fore-head of the ruler of Jalauti Dandapat, the, latter set a `durbar' in Moynagarh. since the coronation of him on some full moonday of pous in 1561-62, the festive mood of Moynagarh had had its start. After a few months of the coronation the first ever mela, the `Rathayatra' of Jagannathadeva, commenced. Thereafter on the following full-moonday of kartik the `Rasotsav' began. A dillapidated wooden image of Jagannatha is to be found still now. The Rathayatra is only a distant memory now. The wide street leading to Masibari has disappeared. But the rasotsav has outlived every obstacle on its way. like a flowing river it moves on perenially.
Chaitanyadeva started for pilgrimage at Srikshetra Jagannathadham in the second decade of 16th century. The then head-quarters of Jalauti Dandapat was at balisitagarh. The ruler of the same along with his son approached Srichaitanya Mahaprabhu reverentially. |
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The son appears to touch his feet while he got a new name for himself -Chaitanyacharan. since then, the family of Bahubalindras used to be disciples of the Mahanta of Sripat Gopilballavpur. At that time the temple of Shyamsundar, the hereditary deity of Bahubalindras, was established. The middle of 16th century saw the beginning of Rasotsav. In the 21st century the flame is in the very same glare. What is the mystery about it ?
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In the garh are to be seen the temples of Vaishnava, shaiva
and shakta cults. Baishnavite worshipping denotes God in calm, quiet and pleasant grace. Inside the fort Janmastami, Nandotsav, Radhastami, Jhulanyatra, are held. outside the garh Rasyatra on and from Utthan Ekadasi and Dole Panchamdole on the full-moonday of the month of falgun. The aforesaid are observed only symbolically except Rasmela. with the participation of thousands of people it is still alive in its full meaning. once it was the practice to meet the expenditure of the Mela from the revenue of the five `ferries' of kansavati. After the abolition of Zamindary system in 1955, the expenditure of the mela used to be met from the stall and shop-owners hailing from outside.
Rasmela Nocturnal Rasyatra by boat, Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik |
Rasmela Nocturnal Rasyatra by boat, Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik |
quite a new chapter in the history of the mela was opened in 1970. A public meeting was convenned and the people at large got ready to shoulder the huge burden. From that very time `Moyna Rasmela committee' came forward to share the responsibility. Another turning point was in 2002 when Haldia utsav committee became the chief patron. At first in 1970 Naresh chandra Maity, the then elected Anchal Pradhan and a popular teacher too, was at the helm of affairs of the mela, and he did this efficiently for more than 25 years at a stretch. Then Sadhan Bhowmik, a retired government employee took charge of it. Ajit Maity etc. Fazlur Rahaman, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh (once a resident of village Garsafat) took keen interest to promote the mela.
Rasmela Nocturnal Rasyatra by boat, Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik
Once this part of Medinipur was included into the territory of orissa. So a stream of inter-state cultural synthesis is flowing underneath. mats full of artistry, `Batasa' of giant size, earthen-utensils, materials of terracotta etc. are to be had in this mela. we become nostalgic of the past when we are in it.
Rasmela Lord Krishna , Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik
In the heritage of Moyna the `gurguri bazna' has an important place. The researchers have avoided the matter -- why, I do not know. possibly these instrumentalists beat the trumpet during the `Chuar revolt'. In those days this party comprised the community of people hailing from so-called lower strata of the society. The party
used to be composed of 16 to 18 persons of which 4 are ladies. They wore a special kind of dress meant for them. Boys wore coloured shirts, knee-deep showy pantaloons, caps made of cloth. Female members used to wear small, short but coloured saries, crowns made of feathers and creepers etc. Their ankles wore `ghungur' which rang when they danced in a circular form. Unfortunately, the popularity of it diminished gradually and now it is an extinct.
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