The Raas Leela festival is Majuli's most important cultural event, held in mid-November across several satras simultaneously — the largest celebrations at Dakhinpat, Kamalabari, and Garamur. The festival commemorates the Krishna-Raas story from the Bhagavata Purana: the night when Krishna danced with the gopis in the forests of Vrindavan. On Majuli, it has evolved into an all-night program of Bhaona (classical drama), Borgeet singing, and Sattriya dance performed by monks in full costume.
Performances run through the night. Audience and performers are mixed together in the courtyards, with lanterns providing the only light. The masks are extraordinary — some three feet tall, depicting gods and demons with painted faces and headdresses of peacock feathers and tinsel. If you want to attend, time your visit to coincide with the festival and book accommodation well in advance; the island fills up. The atmosphere is unlike any formal performance context: intimate, spontaneous, and clearly devotional rather than theatrical.