The Ultimate Guide to Santipur
RAAS UTSAAV
Raas Utsav of Santipur ‘Raas Utsav’ of Santipur is a glorious tradition that has stood for five centuries and has made this historical town a vibrant religious and artistic center, which originated with a great tradition from Mathuresh Goswami himself, a great-grandson of ‘Advaita Acharya’. Held during the Kartik ‘Purnima,’ Raas Utsav is a celebration of the divine ‘Raas Leela’ of ‘Radha and Krishna,’ a rare blend of Vaishnavite piety with Shakta components such as ‘Pateshwari Kali darshan’ or ‘painted scrolls.’ One of its characteristic features is the procession of ‘Joshilo Anussa’ or ‘Utsav Anushila,’ which includes the selected ‘Radharaman Jiu’ of Baro Goswami Bari with massive wooden thrones traditionally lighted up with antique ‘Belgian Glass chandeliers’ instead of electric lights.
The show is further enhanced by the ‘Rai-Raja,’ a living tradition that brings out a ‘girl as Radhika,’ which culminates into ‘Bhanga Raas,’ a festival which sees millions of devotees throng together to witness their ‘cultural and religious heritage.’
BAMA KALI
The **Bama Kali** of Santipur, particularly associated with the historic **Chanduni Bari**, is a mythical figure who is believed to be 500 years old and famous for her fierce and distinctive pose where she is shown to step on Lord Shiva with her **left foot** (*Bama*) instead of the common right. This practice dates back to the time when **Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu** existed and is most famous for the terrifying **”Bama Kali Nach”** ceremony associated with the immersion ceremony, where devotees bearing the gargantuan 15 feet idol on their shoulders walk along and dance rhythmically to the beating **Dhaks**. Illuminated by the ancient light of **Mashals** (torches) and a winding path through the narrow streets of the town, this ceremony celebrates the raw energy associated with the Goddess and is a testament to the **Sakta culture that existed and continues to do so at Santipur**.