Jagannath naam concludes

A Correspondent

Doomdooma, May 16: The Jagannath naam is observed in Assam for the whole month of Bohag every year where the women folk do naam-prasanga by covering a plantain tree with a gamosa in front of the thapana where xarais are placed. According to legend, the Jagannath Prabhu of Puri leaves his permanent abode at Jagannath Puri at Odisha on the first day of the month of Bohag to undertake an whirlwind tour all around till the last day of the month and then returns. To mark this occasion, the Utha naam or the concluding naam-prasanga was organized on Monday at Doomdooma Asamiya Puja Aru Natya Mandir premises.

The covering of plantain tree with gamosa is a symbol of arranging marriage ceremony of Jagannath Prabhu. Besides naam-prasanga, the namatees resort to all sorts of merry-making usually done in a marriage ceremony in the Assamese families.