Devotees and pilgrims gathered at the historic Ramraikuti Satra in Satrasal in Assam’s Dhubri district on September 21 to observe the 573rd Janma Jayanti and Tithi of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev.
The annual religious observance at the centuries-old Satra included prayers, devotional programmes and a congregational Naam procession through nearby villages. Many devotees took part in the procession barefoot as it passed through Borohati, Rampurihati, Chararpar, Chatam and Nawhati before returning to the Satra.
Devotees chanted Naam associated with the Ekasarana Dharma propagated by Srimanta Sankardev during the procession. On returning to the Satra, they offered prayers and paid homage to the Vaishnavite saint and reformer.
A significant part of the observance was a visit to an old Ou tree (Dillenia indica) situated in an area described as No Man’s Land along the zero line of the India-Bangladesh border. The tree is located beyond the international fencing at Gate No. 4, opposite Bhawalkuri village in Bangladesh.
According to local heritage accounts, the tree is associated with a visit by Srimanta Sankardev to the region. It is believed to mark the place where he anchored his boat during his travels, while the site is also linked to the historical course of the Sonkosh waterway.
Ramraikuti Satra is closely associated with the history of Srimanta Sankardev and the Koch kingdom. Historical accounts state that the Satra was established in the 16th century around the marriage of Koch general Bir Chilarai, also known as Shukladhwaj, and Aai Bhubaneswari Devi, daughter of Sankardev’s cousin Ramrai. The Satra derives its name from Ramrai.
The Satra complex also preserves several heritage objects linked to the religious and cultural history of the region. Among them is the Akshay Banthi, a continuously burning oil lamp traditionally maintained by successive generations, and an old brass chariot associated with the Koch dynasty and the period of Srimanta Sankardev.