| Shakta Rash | |
|---|---|
 Dumureshwari Mata in Nabadwip Rash Jatra | |
| Also called | Pot Purnima, Rash-Kali Puja, Rash Jatra |
| Observed by | Bengali Hindu |
| Type | Hinduism |
| Celebrations | Puja, Boli (Animal Sacrifice) in some places, Processionals, Immersion of idols |
| Observances | To make idols of gods and goddesses with clay and to pay obeisances and worship Shakti in Kartik Purnima |
| Begins | Kartika Purnima |
| Ends | After Rash Purnima or Kartik Purnima with celebrating immersion named Arong[1] |
| Date | 15 November (2024) 5 November (2025) |
| Frequency | Annual |
Shakta Rash (ISO: Śākta Rāsa; Bengali: শাক্তরাস), also known as Rash Utsav, is an annual festival, celebrated uniquely in Nabadwip of West Bengal. The festival is observed in the month of Kartika in Kartika Purnima (the full moon day of Kartika month) of Hindu calendar, which corresponds to November in the Gregorian calendar.[2] After the grandeur of Durga Puja and Kali Puja, Rash festival is celebrated as a continuation of devotion of Shakti traditions of Hinduism. While Durga Puja focuses on the worship of Goddess Durga—the embodiment of strength, protection, and cosmic balance[3]—the Ras festival emphasizes devotion to Shakti, the divine feminine energy that manifests in various forms, such as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, and others.[4]
The main features of Shakta Ras are to make large clay idols (murtis) to worship Shakti. The craftsmanship involved in creating the clay idols of the Shakta deities, their religious connotations, and the artist's perfect portrayal combine to give this festival a unique character.[5] Nabadwip's Ras is not just a religious event, but also a cultural celebration, where art, spirituality, and tradition come together in an extraordinary blend. Each idol seems to evoke a powerful invocation of energy, instilling a sense of peace and strength deep within the hearts of the people. Every idol has an artistic design, a variety of imagination, religious discourse, and deep understanding of the scholars, which help entertain innumerable people.[6] Cartoonist Chandi Lahiri said that the large scale of the clay idols differs from any other festivals, because the idols from Nabadwip is shapely and symmetric despite their light weight and enormous proportions.
- ^ "রাসে পরিবর্তনের ছোঁয়া, খুশি নবদ্বীপ". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). 8 November 2014. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
- ^ Bose, Girish Chandra (1958). Ray, Alok; Upadhyay, Ashok (eds.). Sekaler Darogar Kahini (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). Beniatola Ln, College Row, College Street, Kolkata: Pustak Bipani. p. 34.
- ^ McDaniel, June (2004-08-05). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press. pp. 209–210. ISBN 978-0-19-534713-5.
- ^ "শাক্ত-বৈষ্ণব বিরোধ মেটাতেই শুরু হয় নবদ্বীপের রাস". Anandabazar Patrika. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Jugantar. Vol:24 ; Issue: 50 (08 November 1960)". Endangered Archives Programme (in Bengali). 8 November 1960. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ Mitra, Ashok (1968). Pashchim Banger Puja-parban O Mela Vol. 2 (in Bengali). Vol. 2nd. India: Census Commissioner of India. p. 257.