Howly: Devotees visiting the annual Raas Mahotsav here based on the central theme of Lord Krishna's divine love stand a chance to drive back home in a Mercedes.
Not only the Merc CLA 200, lucky ones may become the proud winner of a Toyota Innova Crysta, or a Mahindra XUV 500, or a Maruti Vitara Brezza, or one of the 11 other brands of cars.
Since 2006, a lottery contest has become an integral part of the Raas Mahotsav in this town in Assam's Barpeta district and all the prizes are cars.
This time, 1.8 lakh tickets are on offer, 20,000 more than last time, for 15 cars up for grabs, says Bibek Talukdar, secretary of the Howly Raas Lottery Committee.
The Raas festival here began on Friday and will continue till 17. The winners of the lottery contest will be announced on the last day.
"Last year, the first prize was won by a poor farmer. In 2015, the first prize was bagged by a fish monger," Talukdar said.
Winners are from the lower income category normally sell the cars, he says.
An interesting aspect is that since its inception, the lottery coupon is fixed at a rate of Rs. 100.
In the inaugural year, the first prize was a Maruti 800.
According to Utpal Nath, secretary of Howly Raas Committee, nearly 30 lakh devotees turn up for the festival with about 5 lakh coming on the last day in 2016.
Over the years, the proceeds have been utilised for building a temple, a multipurpose cultural complex with Japanese technology, he says.
Tickets are sold out a week before the festival and the cars are displayed for 15 days, he says.
"Some people come to see only the cars. The tickets are sold only in counters here. This year cars worth Rs 1.20 crore will be given," Nath says.
Himraj Das, an executive officer at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who hails from this town, has been trying his luck in vain in the lottery contest. He, however, hasn't given up hope.