Xatras are spreading Vaishnavite culture far and wide: Assam Governor Prof Jagdish

GUWAHATI: Assam Governor Prof Jagdish along with the First Lady of the State, Prem Mukhi, on Sunday visited the Chamaguri Xatra in Majuli which is world famous for its age-old mask-making practices.

Visiting the xatra, Mukhi interacted with the Xatradhikar and other devotees. He said that he is mesmerized by the range of performance of masks making. He said, "It is an important form of traditional art and the entire process about the mask making is quite artistic and unique and the final output, that is the mask, becomes so real that it feels like original characters of the Indian epics."

The Governor said that the Government is paying great efforts for the enrichment of the Xatras of the State. Encroachment is one of the major problems that Xatras are facing. However, the present Government took decisive steps to free xatra lands from encroachment. He also called upon everybody in Majuli to work concertedly to uphold the spirit of the xatras which are the very basis of Vaishnavite culture. Exhibition of the mask making process was shown to the Governor by xatriya artiste Khagen Goswami and a bhaona was also organized there by the xatra authority where some epic scenes from the Ramayana were depicted by the artistes.

Later, the Governor also visited the Dakhinpat xatra, where he witnessed a cultural programme performed by little xatriya artistes. On the occasion, he said that the Vaishnavite saint Sankardeva reformed the Assamese society. His disciples like Madhavdev played a pivotal role to uphold and promote his ideals and philosophies. Before Sankardeva, the Assamese society had faced huge societal challenges like superstitions, illiteracy etc. But Sankardeva had wiped off everything using the method of spiritualism.

He also said that xatras are playing a significant role to uphold the ideals of the Gurujona. Majuli is the cradle of xatriya culture which reflects the identity of beautiful Assam and they are carrying the ethos of Vaishnavite culture far and wide, transcending all boundaries. Mukhi expressed the hope that the Majuli Cultural University, which is unique in several ways in imparting education of the rich and colourful culture of the land, is being developed into a centre of excellence for cultural education in the North-East. He said that the university will certainly play a significant role to disseminate the regal ethos of xatras and the culture of Majuli.

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