Guwahati, May 30: Sansaran, a cultural organisation based in Upper Assam's Jorhat town, will give away Xankardev Madhabdev award to xatradhikar of Barpeta Xatra, Basistha Deb Sarma, on July 5 in Guwahati for his contribution in promoting borgeet and devotional songs, composed by Srimanta Xankardev and Madhabdev, two Vaishnavite saints of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Reepa Goswami Baruah, general secretary of the society, said here today the award was being instituted for the first time in order to recognise the persons associated with preservation and promotion of borgeet.

The award, comprising a citation, cash and other mementos, will be handed over to the xatrdhikar at a function at the district library here.

Barpeta Xatra, Borduwa Xatra (Nagaon) and Kamalabari (Majuli) are considered three gharanas of borgeet.

The organisation will also organise an all-Assam level competition of borgeet and ankia nator geet (the songs used in one-act play of Xankardev) on July 2 and 4 at the same venue.

The jury will include xatradhikars, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Padma Shri awardees.

"Our purpose is to guide our young boys and girls in learning and performing the actual form of borgeet, composed and tuned by Srimanta Xankardev in Xattriya classical pattern. The winners of the competition will be awarded with cash, while recordings of these borgeet will be preserved in the state archive. Besides, we are planning to upload the recordings on social media platforms like YouTube and other websites to popularise it among the young generation. By watching the videos, the youths can learn the actual pattern of rag, tal-man, sur of borgeet. People across the country and world will also be able to watch and learn the original form of borgeet by logging into these sites," Goswami Baruah said.