Punya Makar Maghi Purnima Mahasnanotsav organized at Triveni Sangam of Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Like in the previous years, the Punya Makar Maghi Purnima Mahasnanotsav (Holy Bath Festival) was organized at Laksmi Da Triveni Sangam at Joyhing in Lakhimpur district on Saturday with a day-long programme.

The religious event was organized by the Lakshmi Da Triveni Sangam Development Committee on the occasion of the holy Full Moon's Day of the Assamese calendar month of Magh. The festive event was held with a view to reawakening the place of worship and to promoting the site to a tourist attraction to develop the tourism industry of the district.

Notably, Laksmi Da Triveni Sangam is one of the holy places of Assam which has been glorifying Lakhimpur district since time immemorial. It is located in the beautiful landscape of the confluence of the Ranganadi, Joyhingnadi and Dhekianad at Joyhing, 10 km north of North Lakhimpur town. Ranganadi is mentioned as Rakta Ganga while the Dhekianadi is narrated as the Mohi Nadi in the Puranas. This confluence is narrated as a holy place in the 'Kumarika' canto of the Skanda Purana, one of the masterpieces of the eighteen Puranas of the Hindu classics. As per the Purana, the worshipping of Lord Shiva for salvation is associated with the place through the story of Kumarika who was freed form curse after taking bath in the holy confluence. Princess Kumarika was the daughter of King Satashringa of Shinghal kingdom. While bathing in the holy confluence, she recovered from a curse by the grace of Mahadeva. Then in her second birth, Kumarika appeared as Chitralekha, the bosom friend of Usha, the daughter of Sonitpur king Ban Raja. Chitralekha, at this place, worshipped Mahadeva and attained siddhi in art and culture, in which she excelled.

The agenda of the programme began in the early morning with the recitation of Veda mantras— the verses of the Veda and Nadi Pujan event with religious fervour. Then hundreds of devotees took part in the holy bath. In connection with the event, a Trident (trishul) of 90-foot length was set up at the Triveni Sangam site. Prominent priest Ranganath Chaturvedi performed the religious formalities while setting up the Trident.

It was followed by a Dharmalosana Sabha which was chaired by Lakshmi Da Triveni Sangam Development Committee working president Nripen Phukan. The agenda of the programme began with a Dashawotar Nritya, presented by artiste Bhargavi Hazarika. It was inaugurated by social activist Narendra Maheswari. Ranganath Chaturvedi delivered an elaborate speech about the significance of the holy confluence while Gitacharya Purandar Baruah took part in the programme as appointed speaker.

"Spirituality is not an odd subject. It is a science more superior to intellectual science. Spiritual ideology is India's tremendous contribution to the world. The north-eastern region, including Assam, has also contributed immensely to the spiritual field. It is our moral responsibility to lead this tradition ahead," Purandar Baruah asserted. In his lecture, he laid stress on developing the beautiful landscape of the Triveni Sangam as a major tourist site of the region.

Dakshinpat Xatra Xatradhikar Janardan Goswami as a distinguished guest and prominent figure of Gorkha culture, Binod Khanal as guest of honour delivered lectures in the meeting. From the Adivasi society, David Boraik also delivered an encouraging lecture. Cultural artiste Bidya Sagar and a host of local artistes presented classical songs and dance items in the event.

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