Devotees gather at Ramraikuti Satra in Assam's Dhubri to mark Srimanta Sankardev’s 578th Janma Jayanti

The 578th Janma Jayanti and Tithi of Srimanta Sankardev was observed at the historic Ramraikuti Satra in Satrasal in Assam’s Dhubri district, with devotees taking part in religious programmes and a Naam procession through nearby villages.

The annual observance drew pilgrims and devotees to the centuries-old Satra, located close to the India-Bangladesh international border. The celebrations included a congregational Naam procession in which devotees, many of them walking barefoot, passed through Borohati, Rampurihati, Chararpar, Chatam and Nawhati villages.

The procession featured devotional chants associated with the Ekasarana Dharma propagated by Srimanta Sankardev and concluded with devotees returning to the Satra to offer prayers and pay homage.

A key part of the observance was a visit to an old Ou tree (Dillenia indica), located in the area described as No Man’s Land along the zero line of the India-Bangladesh border. The tree stands beyond 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 and is believed to mark the location where he anchored his boat during his travels. The site is also linked to the historical course of the Sonkosh waterway.

The Ramraikuti Satra is 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, the daughter of Sankardev’s cousin Ramrai. The Satra derives its name from Ramrai.

The Satra complex also houses heritage objects associated with the religious and cultural history of the region. These include the Akshay Banthi, a continuously burning oil lamp that has traditionally been maintained by successive generations, and an old brass chariot associated with the Koch dynasty and the period of Sankardev.

The annual Janmotsav at Ramraikuti Satra thus brought together devotees and pilgrims at a site of religious and historical significance near the international border, with prayers and homage forming the central part of the observance.