7,000 Howly women set record with Theonaam performance

Guwahati: Over 7,000 women hailing from 12 districts of Assam, associated with the 97th Howly Raas Mahotsav Committee, have earned a place in the Assam Book of Records by performing Sattriya Theonaam in unison. The grand event which showcased the rich spiritual and cultural heritage, has been hailed as a moment of pride for Barpeta district, and the entire state. Organised at the Chandi Baruah Stadium in Howly, Barpeta district on Sunday, the women's effort also marks an official attempt to enter the World Book of Records. The performance was nothing short of grand as it featured the synchronised sounds of 15 pairs of nagora and 55 pairs of taal, creating a powerful spiritual and cultural resonance that captivated thousands in attendance.Manohari Bayan, a member of the committee, said, "The event was a culmination of four to five months of rigorous planning and practice, aimed at showcasing Theonaam - the devotion compositions of Gurus Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev." Adding to the emotional depth of the evening, Bayan said the gathering also paid tribute to the legendary music maestro Bhupen Hazarika, ahead of his birth centenary, which will be celebrated in Sept. In that moment, more than 12,000 people, including participants and spectators, joined their voices in unison to sing his timeless classic ‘Manuhe Manuhor Babe', symbolising humanity and unity. The historic occasion was graced by several dignitaries, including Assam cabinet minister Ranjit Kumar Dass, Bodo Territorial Region executive member Gautam Das, Burhasattriya Babul Chandra Das of Barpeta Satra, Sattradhikar Nirmal Adhikari of Sundaridia Satra, Deka Sattradhikar Dasharath Adhikari of Mayanbari Satra, along with committee president and chief organiser Hemen Das and others.