Preparations underway at Dublar Char as Rash Mela to begin 28 Nov

Local administration has taken necessary preparations as 3-day traditional Rash Mela at Dublar Char island near the Sundarbans is set to begin on 28 November.

Adequate measures have been taken so that  tourists and pilgrims can visit Dublar Char maintaining health guideline fixed by the government amid the coronavirus pandemic, said officials of forest department at Sundarbans West Zone. 

Visitors will be allowed to enter the mela using five routes, fixed by the authorities concerned.

Members of forest department, police, Rab, BGB will keep patrolling in the area to ensure security of the tourists and devotees.

This year, the Forest Department has fixed five waterways for devotees and visitors to go to Dublar Char to join the Raas Mela.

The routes are: From the Burigoalini-Kobadak rivers to Dublarchar via the Batulanadi-Balnadi-Patkoshta-Hongshoraj rivers; from Koyra, Kashiabad, Khashitana, Bojboja via Arua Shibsa, the Shibsa river, Morjat to Dublar Char; from Naliyan Station to Dublar char via the Shibsha-Marjat river; Dangmari/Chandpai station to Dublar char; Bogi-Baleswar-Supoti Station-Kachikhali-Shelar Char to Dublar Char.

Visitors and devotees will have to pay entry free and no visitor will be allowed to move in the night time, said forest department officials.

Boats, launches and trawlers have to go the festival area through the Forest Department check points.

The visitors have to carry their national ID cards and certificates from local chairman concerned for entering  the Rash mela.

Rash Purnima, the day of full moon in the Bangla month of Kartik (late autumn), is celebrated as the moment of union of Hindu god Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha.

Rash Purnima is mainly celebrated at Dublar Char in the Sundarbans, at Kalapara in Kuakata upazila of Patuakhali, and in Komalganj upazila of Moulvibazar in the country.