Chanmari Sarbajanik Puja Samiti to Celebrate Platinum Jubilee with Month-Long Festivities
One of Guwahati’s oldest religious institutions, Chanmari Sarbajanik Puja Samiti, has completed 75 years of its existence. Established in 1952, the committee is organising a month-long series of colourful programmes to celebrate its Platinum Jubilee, coinciding with this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja. The committee announced the details of the celebrations at a press conference.
The celebrations will begin on Sunday, October 11, with the hoisting of the committee’s flag. A series of programmes, including religious ceremonies, competitions, cultural evenings, a religious discussion session and the release of a commemorative souvenir, will be organised as part of the celebrations.
Religious and Cultural Programmes
A women’s Dihanam competition will be held on October 12 at the committee premises. The first, second and third prizes will be 15,001, 10,001 and 7,501, respectively. This will be followed by a women’s Durganam competition on October 13, with prize money of 10,001, 7,001 and 5,001 for the first, second and third positions, respectively.
The invitation and Adhibas rituals of Goddess Durga will be performed on October 16, followed by the installation of the Navapatrika and the Saptami puja on October 17. The religious rituals will continue throughout the festival, culminating in the immersion of the Goddess on October 21.
An Aarti competition has been scheduled for October 19, with prizes of ₹5,001, ₹3,001 and ₹2,001 for the first, second and third positions, respectively.
On the night of Vijaya Dashami, at 7 pm, Baijanti Nath Talukdar will present a performance of women’s Nagaranaam.
In addition, Lakshmi Puja will be held at the puja pandal on October 25, followed by Kali Puja on November 8.
Debate, Borgeet and Folk Song Competitions
As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, an inter-university and inter-college debate competition will be held on October 31 at the local Tirthanath Sarma Auditorium. The competition will be inaugurated by Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury.
The winning and runner-up teams will receive cash prizes of ₹20,001 and ₹15,001, respectively. The prizes for the best debaters will be 7,001, 5,001 and 3,001 for the first, second and third positions, respectively.
The following day, November 1, Borgeet and folk song competitions will be organised at the same venue. In both competitions, the first, second and third prize winners will receive 7,001, 5,001 and 4,001, respectively.
A drawing competition for students from Classes I to VIII will also be held at the puja pandal at 9 am on November 1. The competition will be divided into two categories: Category A for students from Classes VI to VIII and Category B for students from Classes I to V.
In Category A, the first, second and third prizes will be 3,001, 2,001 and 1,001, respectively. In Category B, the prizes will be 2,001, 1,501 and 1,001, respectively.
Religious Discussion and Cultural Evening on November 14
One of the major highlights of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations will be a religious discussion session and a special cultural evening on November 14.
The religious discussion session will be held at the temple premises at 10 am. It will be inaugurated by the committee’s chief adviser, Dr Ram Narayan Majumdar. Shri Nripen Sarma and Shri Satish Sarma will attend as designated speakers.
At 4 pm, a special programme will be organised at the playground of Purba Guwahati Adarsha High School, where senior members of the committee and prominent personalities from the locality will be felicitated.
The Platinum Jubilee souvenir, ‘Bishwarupa-2’, will subsequently be released by Jayanta Baruah, chairman of the Sadin-Pratidin Group.
The cultural evening, to be inaugurated by noted artist Ramen Choudhury, will feature performances by renowned artistes, including Tarali Sarma and Dwar Hazarika, among others.
Ankiya Bhaona to Mark the Conclusion on November 15
The month-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations will conclude on November 15 with an Ankiya Bhaona performance by the ‘Manikanchan Bhaona Dal’ from Amguri in Sivasagar district. The performance will begin at 7 pm.
By bringing together religious traditions, Assamese folk culture, literary pursuits and the region’s rich cultural heritage on a common platform, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Chanmari Sarbajanik Puja Samiti are expected to hold special significance for the Chanmari locality and the broader cultural landscape of Guwahati.
