'Empowering xatras will empower Assam culture'

Concluding function of Axom Xatra Mahaxabha's centery celebrations at Sivasagar

A Correspondent

Sivasagar, Oct 10: The concluding function of the centery celebration of the Axom Xatra Mahaxabha began today at the Boarding field in Sivasagar.

The two-day programme commenced with the hoisting of 102 flags and paying of tributes. The 'Shraddhanjali' ceremony was iugurated by Mahaxabha's working president Haridev Goswami.

A souvenir, titled 'Xatraxandhaee', was released by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.

In his speech, Mahanta highlighted the age-old role played by the xatras in fostering brotherhood among different communities of the State. "The xatra has emerged as the symbol of greater Assam," he said, adding that to empower the Assamese culture, xatras will have to be empowered.

Later, a discourse on 'the ideology of the Vaishvite saint and the duties of the society in propagating them' was iugurated by Aoniati Xatra Xatradhikar Dr Peetambar Dev Goswami. The discourse was moderated by Mahaxabha's former president Leelakanta Mahanta.

"Xatras have fuelled the growth of culture in the State. Till we have respect for the great saint, the Assamese society will not perish," Dr Peetambar Dev Goswami said, underlining that people will have to shun materialism to ensure a disciplined society. AXM president Jitendrath Pradhani released a compilation of the list of 'amghars' in Sivasagar district. Former AXM vice president Rohit Mahanta released a book titled 'Guru Charit'.

In the evening, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa iugurated a youth festival titled 'Today's Youth and the Assam Xatra Institution.'

Tasa underlined that spiritualism is the key to bring "misled" youths back to the mainstream.

The Xatriya cultural programme in the evening was organized in memory of Shree Shree Letugram Barxatra Xatriya dance artiste Captain Ramchandra Mahanta.