Rashyatra, a three-day festival is held in many households and temples both in and outside Kolkata. It is held in Kartick purnima normally in the month of November. But there is another rashyatra or rash festival popularly known as Chaitra Rash or Baldev’s Rashyatra which is very rare in Kolkata. One such place where it is held in a grand way is Mitra Bari of 143, 146 (main residence of Raja Pitambar Mitra) & 147 Raja Rajendralal Mitra Road, Beleghata, Kolkata – 700010, a Grade – I heritage under Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
This festival is held on the day of the full moon after Dolyatra. It is a five-day festival in which Mitra Bari of Beleghata gets crowded with family-members, devotees and people. Like the Rashyatra of November, this festival is celebrated after sunset in the evening. A fair is also held in the adjoining area where stalls – big and small come up selling a variety of items including sweets.
The house was built by Raja Pitambar Mitra in the last part of the eighteenth century. He was the son of Ajodharam Mitra. Pitambar Mitra was conferred the title of ‘Raja’ by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. He was the first Bengali commander in the court of Shah Alam II. Pitambar Mitra returned to Calcutta around 1786 after retiring from his work. Returning, he first took refuge in his family house at Mechuabazar area. But since he has accepted Baisnavism, he left that residence and came to erstwhile Beleghata and built this house. In this context it would be necessary to mention that Pitambar Mitra previously was a Shakta.
Around this time he structured the divine idols made from neem wood of Balaram and Rebati in Brindaban and installed them at Beleghata. Since then, the Rash festival is continuing here. Apart from the main festival which is Rashyatra, daily worship is performed here. There is a beautiful rectangular rasmancha outside the temple where the idols of Balaram and Rebati are placed during the Rashyatra. I was told by Shri Shankhajit Lal Mitra, family member that the rasmancha was built approximately two decades later after the main house was built,
Now coming to the festival – it has five parts – angarag; abhishek; bonobihar; gostobihar and purnima. Angarag which starts from the Dol purnima is roughly a month-long affair in which the idols of Balaram and Rebati visit their maternal uncle’s house. Their physical appearance was not felt as the doors of the temple remain closed during this time. It is followed by abhisek roughly a week before the festival. Then comes bonobihar and gostobihar in which the idols move around the nearby rashbagan in a clockwise direction. At this time they are offered bhog and arati. Arati is a ritual in which lights are lit especially the oil lamps and offered to express love as well as gratitude to the deities. It is followed by the rash festival in which the idols of Balaram and Rebati are taken to the rasmancha in the evening and special puja is held there for three days. The sounds of conch shells, bells and nahabat fills the temple premises. People of different age groups crowd the area during the evening. Finally the festival ends with a puja to Lord Hanuman.
Special thanks to Shri Shankhajit Lal Mitra.
Date of posting: 21st April, 2024.
Blog of Kinjal Bose 