Dear all Here is a report from our Sankar Jayanti in London. It may seem a bit late but thought better late than never! Thank you!
Regards Manjira Chowdhury 559th Sankar Jayanti celebrated in London 559th Sankar Jayanti was celebrated in Veterans Hall North London on 22 September 07 under the banner of the Asam Sahitya Sabha UK (ASSUK) with a day long programme. People from various parts of the UK and Assam attended the function in a serene and festive atmosphere. The chief guest was Mayor elect of London Borough of Barnet Cllr. Terry Burton along with Mayoress Amy Burton. Namprasanga with the beat of nagara (Rishi Chowdhury), and bortal (Tarun Chowdhury) along with the smell of dhoop-dhuna-bonti and altar created a Namghar like scene and atmosphere in the hall. Namatis were Manjira Chowdhury, Puspa and Gagon Hazarika, Lahori and Anil Ranjan Barthakur, Jiban Kumari and Bhuban Baruah, Surabhi and Khageswar Lahon, Urmi Medhi, Bhabani & Dinesh Kakati, Binu and Sarada Sarma and others. After distribution of the maah prasad a cultural programme with speeches was held to pay tribute to the great social reformer and father of the Assamese nation. In his welcoming address Gagon Hazarika, president of ASSUK emphasized that Sankardev's teachings and ideology are still relevant and could transform today's volatile world we live in. Sankardev, like Mahatma Gandhi after him, believed in peace and non-violence, his was the way of peace and persuasion, not of war and coercion.' All political and ideological problems facing the world today need looking through the magnifying glass of peace, persuasion and non violence. Lahori Barthakur, Vice-president of ASSUK in her speech described Sankardevs multi talent from music to art and above all his propagation of Manabdharma. Cllr. Terry Burton and Dinesh Kakati also spoke on the subject. The cultural programme started with Samyami Chowdhurys bargeet and Kamrupi lokageet accompanied on khol and tabla by Rishi Chowdhury, Other items were lokageet by Surabhi Lahon, Puspa Hazarika, Bhabani Kakati, modern songs by Ranim Sharma and Sharmin Sohani, violin recital by Ronjon and Rondeep Barua, Assamese dance by Aaniya Das entertained the audience. In her vote of thanks Manjira Chowdhury, Secretary ASSUK thanked everyone for their hard work, contribution and participation to make the event a success and urged the diasporas to get interested in their roots and to celebrate the cultural heritage of Assam by getting involved in events such as this. The function concluded with a sumptuous vegetarian meal.
