Largest Bathou Thansali ready for inauguration at Khairabari in Udalguri

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI: Chinakona- a sleepy village near Khairabari of Bhergaon Sub Division in Udalguri district is going to have the rare distinction of having the largest and well spacious and well designed ‘Bathou Mandir’ not only in the four districts of the BTAD, but also perhaps in the State. The construction works of the ‘Bathou Mandir’ named as ‘Hirimba Bathou Thansali’, constructed at the total cost of approximate Rs. 300 lakhs, was initiated in 2012 under the leadership of Executive Member of BTC for Archaeology & Museum, PHE Lwmshrw Daimary as the President of the construction Committee. The BTC authority, meanwhile, has allotted a plot of 14 bighas of government land for the purpose.

Mention may be made here that ‘Bathou’ is the ethnic religion of the Bodo or Kachari tribes and the followers of this religion offer their prayers in ‘Bathou Mandir.’ The name Ba means five and ‘thou’ means deep in Bodo language which reflects the five principles ie bar (air), orr (fire), ha (earth), dwi (water) and okhrang (ether) and these five principles were created by the chief deity ‘Bathoubwrai who is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.

The ‘Hirimba Bathou Thansali’ will have a guest house, a museum, a library and a community dining hall. ‘Joraphagla Thenthamali Kheraisali’, a well decorated open stage has been dedicated in the name of ‘Joraphagla’ and ‘Thenthamali’ who are the exponent of the Bathou culture.

Talking to The Sentinel on Friday afternoon at ‘Hirimba Bathou Thansali’ Executive Member of BTC Lwmshrw Daimary informed that the main prayer hall of the mandir will accommodate 1000 devotees at a time for taking part in the community prayer while in the ‘Bibah Bhavan’ all followers of ‘Bathou’ religion will be able to solemnize their weddings. The entire complex has the facility of running water, synchronized sound system and uninterrupted power. “We have made provisions for illumination so that this mandir can be of the point of attraction for all section of the society,” he added.

The Archaeology and Museum department of BTC has already sanctioned an amount of Rs. 60 lakhs while Rajya Sabha Member Biswajit Daimary sanctioned an amount of Rs. 20 lakh. The Fishery department of the BTC has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 10 lakhs and Kalaigaon legislator Maheswar Boro has sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh. Significantly the remaining amount of Rs. 200 lakhs has generously been donated by the well-wishers and the community members from different places.

Meanwhile, all arrangements have been completed for the ceremonial inauguration of this ‘Bathou Thansali’ with a two-day programme on April 27 and 28 in presence of a large number of devotees, followers, well-wishers and the people of the locality. Besides the religious heads of the ‘Bathou’ religion, BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary, Rajya Sabha Member Biswajit Daimary and several dignitaries will take part in the inaugural function on April 28. Today the community members in large numbers took part in the purification of the Mandir by cleaning the well spacious prayer hall with milk.

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