Two galleries 'Mayurpokhyi Khel-Nao' & Natural History inaugurated at Assam State Museum

A CORRESPONDENT

DHUBRI: Two galleries — Mayurpokhyi Khel-Nao Gallery and the Natural History Gallery -- were inaugurated at the Assam State Museum.

As a part of the inaugural ceremony, a day-long programme was conducted on the museum's premises recently.

The Mayurpokhyi Khel-Nao Gallery curated by Museum officer Mrinmoy Das displays the beautifully painted Khel Nao used for offering Pindojol to the founder Xatradhikar of Kamalabari Xatra, Badula Padma.

The Khel Nao was introduced in the Kamalabari Xatra of Majuli at the time of Padma Ata as a mode of transport, which is a unique piece of collection in the Assam State Museum, opined Museum officer Mrinmoy Das while talking to The Sentinel.

"It was donated to the Assam State Museum in the year 1973. A team of conservators under the supervision of Ashok Das led the conservation work of the boat," Das informed. "The boat is an important cultural property of Assam and reflects the rich Vaishnavite tradition of Majuli while the natural History gallery displays the flora and fauna of the State and its rich biodiversity," said Director of Assam State Museums Y. S. Wunglengton.

A book release programme was also organized in collaboration with Sarat Chandra Sarma Prachyatattva Adhayan Kendra where the book — Mahabharata: Vision and Illumination was released by Vice-Chancellor of Cotton University Professor Bhabesh Chandra Goswami and the galleries were inaugurated by Secretary of Cultural Affairs Department Madhurima Barua Sen.

Professor Goswami in his speech emphasized on the importance of museums in a society and asked the students to actively participate in the events at the museum. He also delivered a speech on Mahabharata. Students from also Cotton University participated in the programme.

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