MANGALDAI, Feb 11 ? With the participation of more than 10,000 delegates coming from different parts of the State as well as the delegates from Orissa, the 73rd annual conference of Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha got under way today with a four-day long programme at Lechakonia Gobinda Atoi Kshetra at Pakabangipara near here. The presence of the devotees numbering about 20,000, has turned the conference ground into a holy pilgrimage as some of the enthusiastic devotees arrived there on foot.
Sri Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, who also came into limelight in the literary arena with his book on General Chilarai recently, today released the souvenir published by the reception committee to mark the occasion. In his speech, Sri Rajkhowa appealed to the Sangha to take up a project on creation of the Brindavani Vastra designed by Srimanta Sankardeva and laid stress on the need for a work culture which can be imbibed from the life of this great Vaishnavite saint. He also spoke on the need for worldwide publicity of the life and philosophy and ideology of Sankardeva.
Earlier, Sri Subhas Burhagohain, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Darrang, inaugurated the main gate of the conference while Md Ezaz Ansar Hazarika, Superintendent of Police, Darrang inaugurated the exhibition-cum-book fair. To-day Dr Jatin Mipun, director of State Fire Service, Assam, in the function released a book titled A Critical Study on Kirtan Ghosha jointly edited by Dr Kanak Chandra Saharia and Bhaben Deka on behalf of the reception committee. Another book A Glimpse on Vaishnavite Literature was released by prominent social worker and ex-president of Bodo Sahitya Sabha Sri Mangal Chandi Brahma.