Guwahati/Dhemaji: Raax festival begins across Assam on Friday.

Special arrangements have being made in Majuli in Upper Assam, Nalbari and Barpeta in lower Assam, which attract tourists from all over the world.

In Nalbari town, the festival will be held at Hari Mandir for 13 days. However, it might be extended to 15 days.

The organisers said 64 idols of various gods and goddesses depicting stories related to Lord Krishna, will be installed at the venue.

The main attraction will , however, be a 25-feet idol of Lord Shiva. The budget for the festival is around Rs 60 lakh.

"Chief minister Sarbabanda Sonowal will inaugurate the festival on Friday evening. This time, around 100 local artisans and from other states, made the idols in a month's time. Moreover, eight mobile theatres - Kohinoor, Hengool, Brindaban, Bhagyadevi, Rajtilak, Rajmukut, Chiranjib and Surya - will stage plays during the festival. Every year, mobile theatres are the attraction of Raax in Nalbari," a member of the organising committee, Diljeet Deka, said.

The All Assam Nagara Naam competition, dhuliya contest and a special book fair will also feature in the festival.

There will be around 800 volunteers deployed at the festival.

In Majuli, the district administration has increased the frequency of ferry services for Kamalabari and Neematighat for convenience of those visiting the river island for the four-day festival. It has declared Friday as local holiday and taken step to check sale of liquor.

"We have made all necessary arrangements, so that the tourists coming in the district do not face any problem," deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha said on Thursday.

The Howly Raax Udjapon Samiti in Barpeta district will celebrate the festival till November 17.

Being organised at a budget of Rs 70 lakh, the samiti has installed 16 CCTVs at the venue. This year, the Howly Award will be given to Birubala Rava, a crusader against witchcraft, during the concluding ceremony.

Additional reporting by Sunil Das