RAS FESTIVAL
Ras festival is held at Andul near Howrah. This festival is connected with the worship of Lakshmi Janardan, the family deity of the Kundu Chudruries.
Andul a place in Sankrail Police Station is Sadar (Howrah) subdivision situated of the right bank of the old Saraswati River, about 4 mile west of Howrah city and 8 miles from Howrah Railway Station. Andul is famous for a Kalikeertan (devotional song of the Kali worship) originated by the late Premik Maharaj, a local inhabitant, whose descendants still live here.
Andul importance stems mainly from its being the seat of two illustrious zamindar families, the Malliks and the Mitras. The founder of the former was Gaur Charan Mallik, who settled here during Muslim rule. His grandson, Kasi Nath, was appointed Diwan of Cuttack at the time of Lord Cornwallis and acquired landed estates there. He next became the chief mukhtar of Maharaja Tejchandra of Burdwan who rewarded his services by the grant of the bulk of Nawapur Mahal in Howrah district. His son, Jagannath Prasad, left three sons, Jogendranath, Nagendranath and Khagendranath, besides two daughters. Jogendranath built a large garden house called the ‘Golap Bag’ or rose garden, which may still be seen at Andul in a ruinous condition.
Of the several temples in the village erected by the ancestors of the Kundu – Chaudhuris, the foremost local zamindars, those dedicated to the Panchananda Siva and Smasaneswar Siva attract the widest version. Churamanipara, a part of the village, which drives its name from that of the renowned Snskrit scholar Churamani Tarkasaraswati, was once an eminent seat of Sanskrit learning having many tols and chatuspathis there. The eminence of the local scholars is established from the fact that the place was known for long as ‘Southern Nabadwip’. On the occasion of the annual Ras festival connected with the worship of Lakshmi – Janardan, the family – deity of the Kundu – Chaudhuris, a big fair is held here lasting for 15 days. Other religious festivities of the village include the Rathajatra (in June – July), and Chadak (in April), each attended by a fair attracting large numbers of visitors.
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