Mohan Bhaira award presented to Hari Bara Barbayan

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

LBARI, Feb 3: The Mohan Bhaira Memorial Award for 2016 was presented to renowned folk artist, khol player Hari Bara Barbayan of the Uttar Kamalabari Satra of Majuli in a function held at the lbari tya Mandir on the occasion of the death anniversary of the legendary artist.

The Award, instituted by the lbari district unit of the AASU and lbari Zila Unti Sabha has been given since 2009 to a folk artiste every year. The award was presented to the folk artiste by Dr Dipak Kumar Sarma, Vice-Chancellor of Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University. The award consists of cash of Rs 10,000, a citation, a sarai and a phulam japi among other things. The general secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union, Lurinjyoti Gogoi attended the function as the chief guest.

The widow of the Kamrupiya dhulia artiste, Saraswati Barman garlanded the portrait of Mohan Bhaira. The award giving function was presided over by Himan Barman, president, lbari district unit of AASU. Earlier the artiste and the guests were welcomed to the venue in a cultural procession from the lbari PWD inspection bungalow.

It may be mentioned here that folk artistes Punya Prava Dutta Tamuly (2009), Sitaram Ray (2010), Muktaram Baruah Ojah (2011), Manik Saikia Ojah (2012), Ruhin Rabha (2013), Dwijen Gogoi (2014) and Prabhat Sarma (2015) have been awarded the Mohan Bhaira Award earlier.