Auniati Satra marks Kati Bihu with sky lamps

Jorhat: As Assam celebrated Kati Bihu, a pre-harvest festival, on Monday, Majuli’s historic Vaishnaviate monastery, Auniati Satra, lit the traditional “akash bonti” (sky lamps) on the premises for the 368th consecutive year.
During the occasion, people lit earthen lamps in paddy fields, houses and in front of Tulsi plants to pray for a good harvest.
At Auniati Satra, the disciples set up pillar-like scaffoldings on the premises and lit earthen lamps on top of them. The satradhikar (head priest), satra disciples and its followers also offered prayers.
“We have organised a daylong programme today for the traditional lightening of “akash bonti” programme on the occasion of Kati Bihu. It is a unique and traditional festival, and was started in 1653 when the satra was established. This year, we have celebrated the festival for the 368th consecutive year and a large number of people, including 250 satra disciples, took part in the programme. As many as 21 pairs of sky lamps were lit ,” Auniati satra satradhikar Pitambor Deva Goswami told TOI on the phone from Majuli.