Namghar: The inclusive community prayer house of an Assamese village

NEZINE's Podcast

A Namghar is the inclusive community prayer house of an Assamese village. More than a reverent place of worship, a Namghar is a common place of gathering for the community in Assam, a state in India's Northeast.

It was Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva, the 15th century social reformer and religious preacher who initiated this institution. Srimanta Sankardeva was one of the greatest communicators on earth who laid the foundations of Assamese literature. He introduced different forms of performing arts such as Borgeet, Bhaona, Ankiya Naat, Gaayan-Baayan , etc. to popularise the Bhakti Movement in Assam through the institution of Namghar.
The doors of a village Namghar are open to individuals across caste, creed and gender.
A Namghar plays a key role in leading the village in a multitude of activities. These include designing costumes for bhaona, making various musical instruments and arrangement of lights among others. It is the villagers who are involved in these year long activities. Some of the villagers may also be involved in making of the Guru Asana or Singhasana. The Guru Asana is the object of reverence which is an ornamental seat kept at the Sanctum Sanctorum, the Manikut.
The day-to-day affairs of a Namghar is run by a Managing Committee elected democratically. Only the deserving ones are entitled to occupy the positions.The persons occupying the positions are merely office bearers and do not enjoy any special privileges on account of their positions. Also, even the wealthiest in the village is supposed to abide by the office bearers of the Namghar.
This is the first episode of a special podcast on Namghar produced and hosted by Abhilash Bapanasha, a student of M. A. (3rd Semester) at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Tezpur University as part of his Summer Internship at NEZINE.
Music - Priyanuj Parasar
Special thanks to Puranimati Bhakatgaon Namghar and Nathgaon Namghar, Dergaon, Hironmoy Nath, Bishal Nath, Shivo Hazarika and Niranjan Bora.
Photo - Hironmoy Nath

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