![]() The term, 'rasa' means emotion or performance and 'lila' is a concept from Hinduism, which roughly translates to 'play or lila of the dance or rasa'. Thus, Rasa Dance is known as the ‘Dance of Divine Love’. Myths of Rasa Dance The rasa dance is a totally religious presentation. In order to set up this fact, Krishna, the utmost spiritual, expanded himself in many forms and stood next to each gopi. Placing his hands on the shoulders of the gopis on both sides of him, he began to dance in their middle. The spiritualist expansions of Krishna were not perceived by the gopis because Krishna appeared single-handedly to each of them. ![]() Performance of Rasa Dance Rasa Lila is a well-liked form of folk theatre in the regions of Mathura, Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Holi and in the middle of different followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in the area. Raas Leela is also observed as one of the State Festivals of Assam which regularly is celebrated during late November or early December. Rasa Lila is depicted within Manipuri classical Indian dance and revolves roughly the same story of the love between Krishna and the cowherd girls and tells the heavenly love story of Krishna, svayam bhagavan and Radha, his godly beloved. Lord Krishna in the middle of the Raas Leela dance depicts that there is a Parmatma or the lord about whom the whole universe is formed. The gopis dance around the lord and they all are considered as the partner of the lord. The gopis were for eternity women and hardly was a man enchanted by Lord Krishna in this form. This too has a deep religious essence. The dance demonstrates an everlasting love of Radha and Krishna as been described in the Hindu scriptures and puranas. It also reveals the magnificent love of Lord Krishna and Radha as well as the devotion of Gopis towards the Lord. In real dance performance, the eye catching elegant movements and beautiful gestures can be seen. During performance, these movements are controlled very much, that it acquires a touch of religious force. |