Guwahati, Jan 31: The Assam government will take up a slew of measures to promote and preserve the legacy of the Ahom community, including a project across 100-bigha land to make Rang Ghar, the centre of the state’s rich cultural heritage.
This was announced by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the Me-Dam-Me-Phi (an Ahom ritual of offering prayers to ancestors) programme organised centrally at Habung in Dhemaji on Monday.
The Rang Ghar is a 18th century amphitheatre in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar town, which once served as the royal sports-pavilion where Ahom kings and nobles were spectators at games such as buffalo fights and other sports.
The chief minister asserted that the history of Assam and Tai Ahoms are not dissimilar and that the glorious chapter of 600 years of Ahom rule has always made every Assamese proud.
“This year, as part of the celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of Ahom general, Lachit Borphukan, the state government will organise two international symposiums in New Delhi and Mumbai and make a documentary in English and Hindi on the life and work of Borphukan.
Announcing steps for developing the maidam (tumulus of the royalty of the medieval Ahom kingdom) of Lachit Borphukan at Jorhat, he called on the All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) to help arrange 50 bigha land near the maidam for the purpose.
Sarma inaugurated the Habung Chao-Chen-Ren (worship place) and Holung Ho-Phi building constructed with the funds provided by the state government.
He also informed about the slew of measures to be taken for Habung’s development, including construction of a guest house by PWD near the Ho-Phi building, setting up of an ethnic village at Habung to showcase the traditions, customs, cuisine and attire of various ethnic communities.
He also called on ATASU to take initiative for setting up an international level auditorium and a Tai Ahom Museum.
Addressing a demand of the Ahom community, the chief minister announced that Rs 20 lakh each would be provided to build worship places (Chao-Chen-Ren) in 50 villages.
These worship places would be inaugurated simultaneously on the day of Me-Dam-Me-Phi next year.