Workshop on Aharya of Ankiya Bhaona

For the first time in India, a 45 day long workshop on Aharya of Ankiya Bhaona was held in Assam under the auspices of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva, an international organisation engaged in promoting the Sankaradeva legacy across the world. The workshop was sponsored by Sattriya Kendra of Sangeet Natak Akademi and it took place from December 14 to January 27 at Pragati Library, Dhing. The workshop concluded on January 27 in a colourful function.

In this workshop, costume making, ornament making, mask making, property making, headgear making, make-up etc were taught by leading experts like Jadab Mahanta, Utpal Bania, Haren Goswami, Nityananda Goswami, Tibrajyoti Bairagi, Rani Dutta Barua, Mridu Moucham Bora, Chittaranjan Bora, Kalyan Saikia etc. There were both theory and practical classes. Weaving looms were set up to weave the requisite cloth in front of the participants, who also joined the weaving process.

Manoj Kumar Das, Director of Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship as well as several bank officials also trained the participants in entrepreneurship. It may be noted that the goal of this workshop was to equip the participants in such a manner that they could start their own production units of Aharya in different parts of Assam. Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, Dipak Saikia, Pradip Hazarika etc also addressed the participants on different days about different aspects..

Sattradhikar of Nikamul Sattra Punyabrata Deva Goswami, Cultural Secretary of Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha Pabitrapran Bora, Sattradhikar of Narowa Sattra Devananda Deva Goswami and Registrar of Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya Dr Ratul Chandra Bora etc visited the workshop at different times to encourage the participants. Several scholars from Tezpur University also visited the workshop.
An exhibition of the products made in the workshop took place on the concluding day. It was inaugurated by Rajat Ganguli, Director of Sangeet Natak Akademi, North East Centre. He said that Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva had achieved great success in reviving an age-old tradition and imparting it to new generation. He assured that Sangeet Natak Akademi would henceforth extend such assistance all over Assam.
The valedictory session was presided over by Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, President of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva. He expressed gratitude to Sangeet Natak Akademi for their sponsorship of this path-breaking workshop. Certificates were presented to both the participants as well as resource persons. General Secretary of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva Mridu Moucham Bora compered the function. He also gave a powerpoint presentation of the entire activities in the workshop.

The participants of the workshop enacted the Ankiya Bhaona 'Sri Ram Vijay' in collaboration with members of Pragati Aharya, Dhing in the evening. The Bhaona was inaugurated by Dr Kandarpa Kr Deka, Vice Chancellor of Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva Viswavidyalaya, Nagaon. He said that the works of Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva had enabled to spread Srimanta Sankaradeva's legacy across the world. General Secretary of Asom Sattra Mahasabha Jibeswar Deva Goswami said that this workshop has helped a lot in imparting knowledge about prodcuction of Aharya in correct form, The concluding ceremony was also attended by Bhaona artist Deba Mahanta, researcher Dr Biman Hazarika, social activist Kusha Mahanta etc. A brochure with the comments by the visitors was also distributed on that occasion. Artist Ranjan Bezbarua regaled the audience to a fine recital of Sanskrit translation of Bargeet.