Pankaj Nath, Assam: A vibrant Janmashtami celebration was held Friday at Shri Shiyala Vaishnav Devalay in Kumarpara, Deumarnoi, Darrang district, Assam drawing large crowds of devotees and local residents. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya attended as the chief guest, lending prominence to the festivities and stressing the importance of preserving Vaishnav traditions and the region’s cultural heritage.The day-long programme began with morning prayers, temple-cleaning, recitation of the Bhagavat, hoisting of the religious flag and lamp-lighting to mark the inauguration.
Devotional songs (borgeet), listening-archana (shravan-archana) and a tree-planting ceremony followed, creating a blend of spiritual observance and community action. Governor Acharya inspected the proceedings, participated in devotional worship, received blessings, and formally joined the tree-planting activity. In his brief but powerful address, he said Janmashtami is not merely a religious festival but an opportunity to internalize Lord Krishna’s human values—compassion, justice, brotherhood and empathy. He urged attendees to self-reflect and practise these ideals in daily life. Sipajhar MLA Parmananda Rajbanshi highlighted the importance of local Vaishnav traditions and sattra culture, underscoring the need to preserve regional cultural heritage and promote social harmony. Nilima Devi, Cabinet Minister for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, spoke about the historical and spiritual significance of the Shiyala area, thanked sattra and local cultural institutions for their contributions, and called on the community to actively participate in safeguarding tradition.
Governor Acharya recalled eminent Assamese luminaries such as Srimanta Sankardev, Maa Kamakhya and Bir Lachit Borphukan, stressing the obligation to pass Assam’s proud cultural legacy to future generations. He appealed to young people to remain connected to their cultural roots while contributing to a progressive and prosperous society. The event was attended by the Darrang District Commissioner, Sattradhikar, members of the sattra management committee, artists and a large number of local citizens. The Janmashtami celebration conveyed a message that Vaishnav philosophy remains timelessly relevant, and it reinforced commitments to cultural preservation, environmental responsibility and communal goodwill.
