Drummers play dhol at the inauguration of Saraighat Udyan at Agyathuri on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections

March 9: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today inaugurated the Saraighat Udyan at Agyathuri, located on the northern fringe of the city on the banks of the Brahmaputra. The park was constructed as a mark of tribute to the great Ahom warriors who defeated the Mughal army at the historical battle of Saraighat.

Guwahati development minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and forest minister Rockybul Hussain were also present at the ceremony.

The Kamrup district development authority has constructed the park with the assistance of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) at a cost of Rs 65 lakh. The project was entirely funded by the state government.

After visiting the park, Gogoi lauded the efforts of the officials and hoped that the park would turn out to be a major tourist attraction.

The park has four bronze statues of Ahom warriors and a bronze plaque depicting the Saraighat battle, apart from a couple of fibre-glass statues of Ahom warriors at the entrance to the park.

Gogoi suggested that a statue of great Ahom general Lachit Borphukan should also be added to the park since the park was created as a memorial of the Saraighat battle. During the battle, Lachit Borphukan had beheaded his maternal uncle Momai Tamuli for his delay in construction of the Saraighat garh to prevent the Mughals from entering Guwahati.

The chief minister also asked the officials present to take steps for preservation of ancient ruins scattered on a hillock behind the park.

A. Borthakur, assistant engineer of GMDA, designed the park while sculptor Birendra Sinha and a team of experts from Shantiniketan sculpted the statues.

“The park, situated away from the hustle and bustle of city life and overlooking the Brahmaputra, would be a perfect getaway for the people,” a government official said.

He praised the efforts made by Himanta Biswa Sarma, without whose personal initiative the park could not have been completed in time. “Moreover, it will also give the tourists a glimpse of the Saraighat battle,” he added.

Around 10,000 valiant Ahom soldiers laid down their lives fighting against the Mughals during the Saraighat battle in 1669.