LORD KRISHNA AND RAAS LILA

ORIGINS OF RAAS
By: Nirmita Shukla and Arish Gupta



When we talk about Raas, we generally see images in our head of weddings and Navratri days, when hundreds of people form circles, and dance to Gujarati folk music while clapping their hands and hitting Dandiya sticks. Many people even think the name of this dance is "Dandiya". We know that Raas became popular in Gujarat, but the people of Gujarat brought it from the north as they migrated centuries ago. It has evolved over time, and we now see it today being performed both for fun as well as competitively all around the world.

Although Raas can be performed with Dandiya sticks, the true name comes from Raas Leela. It all goes back to Shrimad Bhagavatam, an ancient Hindu scripture. In a portion of the Bhagavatam, there are five chapters known as Rasa-panchadhyayi. These five chapters describe the "Raas Leela" of Krishna with the Gopis (village women) of Vrindavan. The word "Raas" comes from the Sanskrit word "Ras," literally meaning "taste", but interpreted to mean "emotion." The word "Leela" broadly describes the actions of God that we may or may not understand; however, in "Raas Leela", the word refers to Lord Krishna's playful dance. Therefore, Raas Leela describes the dance of Lord Krishna performed with full emotion, love, and bliss.

Most Raas themes are either about worship or love. Although Raas is interpreted to be centered around Krishna and Radha's physical love, Hindus also interpret many physical emotions on a spiritual level. Swami Vivekananda describes Raas Leela as an external expression of divine-leela, which is the struggle of realization and transcendence during a cycle of life and death.

What is exactly is the Raas dance? Ask me in fifty years and the answer will be different from what I may say today. To perform Raas, one does not require an entire orchestra, a dhol (drum) beat is sufficient. Dancers energetically whirl and move their feet and arms in a complicated manner, while hitting short sticks with each other to the rhythm of the dhol drum. Women will wear dazzling traditional cholis, ghagras, and bandhani dupattas while the men will wear turbans and kedias.

There are several forms of Raas, including Dang Lila from Rajasthan, Manjira Raas from Saurashtra, and modern Disco Dandia in nightclubs of Mumbai. Gof Gunfan Raas is one variety where colored strings are tied to a ring hung from the ceiling, and weaved in decorative patterns by the dancers holding them. One thing is for sure; Raas as a folk dance form is organic, and is always changing with time. But "Dandia Raas", performed at Navratri time in Gujarat is the most popular form. "Navratri" translates to "nine nights", and is a festival in celebration of the Hindu Goddess Parvati defeating a demon over the course of nine nights. During these nine nights, she took the form of nine different Goddesses, or Shaktis.

Now Raas is also here in the USA being performed very differently. Raas is sweeping the nation as people fall in love with its exhilarating dance characteristics. Not only is it done for fun but it has become a sport in some cases. Dance teams compete in events where they mix traditional non-stop Raas music with current hip-hop beats and choreograph intricate routines focused on a theme. If you haven't experienced the thrill of Raas, you do not know what you are missing. The next time you see people picking up dandias, join them and join the fun.