Assam, Manipur share deep Vaishnavite ties rooted in Sankardev's legacy: CM Himanta Sarma
Guwahati, May 19
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday highlighted the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual ties between Assam and Manipur, saying that the Vaishnavite traditions of the two northeastern states continue to strengthen the region's shared civilisational heritage.
Posting a video on X from the revered Sri Sri Batadrava Than, the birthplace of medieval saint-reformer Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, the Chief Minister said the musical resonance of Assam's traditional 'Khol' and Manipur's 'Pung' instruments had once again brought alive the cultural unity of the Northeast.
In his post in Hindi, CM Sarma wrote, "Assam and Manipur are deeply connected through Vaishnav traditions. At Sri Sri Batadrava Than, the birthplace of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, the melodies of Assam's Khol and Manipur's Pung once again revived the cultural unity of the Northeast."
The Chief Minister shared the message along with a video showcasing devotional performances and traditional percussion from both states at the historic religious site in Assam's Nagaon district.
The cultural connection between Assam and Manipur dates back several centuries. It is closely linked to the spread of neo-Vaishnavism pioneered by Srimanta Sankardev in Assam during the 15th and 16th centuries.
His reformist Bhakti movement, centred around devotion to Lord Krishna, social harmony and spiritual inclusiveness, had a profound influence across large parts of the Northeast, including Manipur.
Historians note that Vaishnavism became deeply embedded in Manipuri society during the 18th century under the patronage of the then Meitei kings. The religious and cultural traditions of Manipur gradually evolved with influences from Assam's Satra culture, devotional music and performing arts.
Traditional musical instruments also symbolise this shared heritage. Assam's 'Khol', a terracotta percussion instrument central to Sattriya traditions, and Manipur's 'Pung', an essential part of Manipuri devotional dance and music, are both integral to Vaishnav rituals and performances.
Over the years, cultural exchanges between the two states through festivals, devotional music, dance traditions and religious institutions have continued to reinforce the historical bonds between Assam and Manipur.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from Manipur, I appreciate this recognition. But honestly, I wish our governments would do more to preserve these traditions at the grassroots level rather than just posting videos. Many young people in both states don't even know about this shared history. Let's invest in cultural education, not just social media posts.
This is fascinating! I'm from the UK and never knew about this deep connection between these two states. The neo-Vaishnavism movement sounds like a powerful force for social harmony. Would love to visit Assam and Manipur one day to experience these cultural traditions firsthand.
Bahut khoob! 🙌 This is exactly what India needs - more celebration of our civilisational unity. Srimanta Sankardev's message of devotion and harmony is timeless. Hope this inspires similar cultural exchanges between other Northeastern states as well. The video must be amazing to watch!
Beautiful to see cultural unity being highlighted. But I'd love to understand more about how these traditions have adapted over centuries. Are there any specific festivals or events where both Khol and Pung are played together regularly? That would be incredible to witness.
A very heartwarming initiative by CM Sarma ji. Despite all the political differences, our cultural roots remain strong. Vaishnavism truly connects the entire Northeast like a golden thread. I just hope such gestures lead to more tangible cooperation in tourism and cultural preservation between Assam and Manipur. 🙏
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