From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Feb 16: Leaders of Bodoland Jajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) on Thursday slammed the organizers of the 3rd Sankosh Bathou-Kherai Festival to be held from February 16 to February 22 at Ballamjhora on the bank of River Sankosh along the West Bengal border for alleged preparation for various gambling in the venue.
The president of the BJSM, Jaklal Basumatary and working president DD rzary said they initiated the observation of Sankosh Bathou-Kherai festival for the first time in 2016 in a big way and last year also the festival was taken part by a large number of followers from Assam and West Bengal. But this year, the organizers-Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon district committees of Gudi Bathou Dhwrwm Afad along with reception committee, have prepared for various gambling events in the venue, which according to them, was not permissible in a religious festival. They also alleged that liquor would be allowed along with various gambling events in the venue which was not a good sign for the society in such a religious festival.
DD rzary said the festival of Bathou-Kherai on the bank of River Sankosh was held under their initiative to commemorate the first Kherai Festival sponsored by the then Mech King of Coochbehar rrayan in 1562 at Sankosh to seek blessings from Bwrai Bathou to re-invade the Ahom kingdom in the east. He said the Bathou was the most sacred and disciplined religion of the Bodos.
rzary alleged that a former EM of BTC was running the reception committee at the behest of the president of Kokrajhar district Gudi Bathou Dhwrwm Afad, Raju rzary. He said that the responsible persons should think twice about the ill effects of gambling in the religious festival. He also said that the organizing committee and the two district committees of the Gudi Bathou Afad had not invited them to the week-long religious festival due to reasons best known to them and made it clear that they would not take part in the programme until gambling was stopped.