Guwahati: A two-day festival celebrating the life and legacy of Neo-Vaishnavite saint, social reformer and scholar Srimanta Sankardeva was held at Girijananda Chowdhury University (GCU) in Azara on Oct 8 and 9.Organised by the Shrimanta Shankar Academy in collaboration with GCU, the Bina Chowdhury Srimanta Sankardev Heritage Festival 2026 was held in memory of the late Bina Chowdhury. The festival aimed to familiarise young people with Assam’s cultural heritage and encourage its preservation. The event brought together students, educators, artists and cultural practitioners.Padma Shri awardee Jatin Goswami, who attended the inaugural programme as the chief guest, stressed the importance of passing traditional knowledge and cultural practices on to younger generations. He said cultural initiatives and competitions could help students connect with their roots.Kunki Choudhury of the Srimanta Sankardev Society also attended the festival.“The festival featured a range of inter-school competitions, including heritage quiz, Assamese and English essay writing, art, Borgeet and Sattriya Nritya. Workshops on the traditional mask-making practices of Majuli and traditional calligraphy associated with Assamese manuscripts introduced participants to distinctive forms of Assam’s cultural and artistic heritage,” an organiser said.A panel discussion explored the contemporary relevance of Sankardeva’s philosophy and contributions. Writer and columnist Jyoti Khataniar and musician Arunabh Jyoti Malakar participated as panellists and discussed Sankardeva’s lasting influence on Assamese society, literature, music and cultural life.The festival also recognised contributions to the preservation and promotion of Sattriya culture through the Srimanta Sankardev Heritage Awards. The honours were presented to Bokul Vrindabon Sanskriti Gosthi of Charaideo district, led by Nobin Hazarika, and Guwahati-based Harshitaa Ray Choudhury.The awards acknowledged their efforts to preserve Assam’s cultural heritage and carry forward the artistic traditions associated with Srimanta Sankardeva.
