Dibrugarh: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday attended the second biennial full-fledged state convention of the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha, Assam, along with a day-long Akhanda Bhagavat Path and a ceremonial programme of Sri Sri Auniati Satra, held at Rajgarh in Assam’s Dibrugarh.
Addressing the gathering, Sonowal lauded the organisation’s sustained contribution to the practice, preservation and propagation of the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan tradition, describing it as an inseparable part of Assam’s cultural life.
“The Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan tradition is an inseparable part of Assam’s cultural life. Through sustained practice and dedication, it has enriched our cultural landscape and inspired younger generations to remain rooted in our classical and folk traditions,” he said.
The Union Minister said organisations such as the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha have played a critical role in ensuring that Assam’s rich cultural heritage continues to thrive by connecting tradition with younger generations through training, performance and disciplined practice.
Sonowal said he was deeply moved by the scale of the cultural gathering. “From time immemorial, the Gayan-Bayan tradition has been practised across our villages. I, too, am a son of the village. Since childhood, I have grown up seeing and hearing our namghars resonate with the sound of the khol and mrdanga. The mrdanga is one of the principal auspicious instruments of ancient India and is described in mythological narratives as a ‘divine instrument’. It has no written script or textual manual; instead, it has evolved over generations through a distinct tradition and style. Bringing together the Gayan-Bayan traditions scattered across Assam’s villages on a single platform is a matter of great pride,” he said.
During the programme, Sonowal also felicitated Banshi Bakliyal, a distinguished Bayan artiste from Kamarchuk village in Dibrugarh district, in recognition of his decades-long contribution to the practice, training and performance of Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan. He further extended his best wishes to the organisers for their continued efforts to preserve and promote Assam’s traditional art forms.
The event featured cultural performances and was attended by Assam Culture Minister Bimal Bora, Rajya Sabha MP Rameswar Teli, Auniati Satra Satradhikar Sri Sri Pitambar Dev Goswami, Assam Petrochemicals Ltd Chairman Bikul Deka, and other dignitaries, cultural practitioners and members of the public.