GUWAHATI: Assam government has initiated an ambitious project to develop the Batadrava Than.
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Batadrava Than in Nagaon, founded by Srimanta Sankaradeva, is set to get a facelift. The shrine will be revamped to the stature of Punjab's Golden Temple.
The Assam Chief Minister (CM) Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will soon flag off the mega project. For this, an allocation of Rs 150 crores has been made.
Founded by Srimanta Sankaradeva himself, Batadrava Than in Nagaon holds immense importance for Vaishnav followers of Assam. Sankaradeva founded the first-ever Kirtan Ghar here in 1468. The importance of the Than can be derived from the fact that the saint was born at Alipukhuri- Bordowa in 1449, close to the Than.
Srimanta Sankaradeva used to write scriptures sitting below one Shilikha (Myrobalan) Tree near the Kirtan Ghar, which is still alive. This tree is another attraction of this Than.
Earlier, minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his Independence Day speech, had stated about the prospect of the project. "Srimanta Sankaradeva is our cultural hero and Batadrava is his birthplace. Our plan is to invest Rs 150 crores to revamp it. We want to take Batadrava to the heights of Punjab's Golden Temple," Sarma had announced.