Uttar Kamalabari Xatra. Telegraph picture

Jorhat, Dec. 13: For 11 days from Thursday, 400 schoolchildren from across Assam will soak in the serene ambience of a xatra in Majuli and learn everything there is to know about the Vaishnavite culture propagated by the 15th century saint Srimanta Sankardev.

The Uttar Kamalabari Xatra decided to organise the children’s camp on its premises to familiarise children with Xattriya culture and get a first-hand experience of monastery life.

Preparations for the camp began a few months back when the xatra contacted its disciples living in various parts of Assam to propagate the programme.

Banners and posters were put up in certain areas, while in others the disciples took it upon themselves to approach parents seeking permission to allow their ward to join this unique camp.

This Thursday, children from Classes V to VII belonging to various communities, including Mising, Deuri, Bodo, Karbi, Rabha and Nepalese, will step into the picturesque Majuli and begin their 11-day tryst with spiritualism.

Apart from lectures by xatradhikars (head priests) of different xatras of the island, experts and scholars are expected to address the students on various components of Xattriya culture.

Vice-chancellor of Dibrugarh University K.K. Deka and the head of the department of Assamese literature of the university, Karabi Deka Hazarika, will be among the experts from outside the xatras who will address the children.

The camp, named Purbator Khetra Sishu Sanskar Sibir, will also organise theoretical and practical sessions on borgeet, Xattriya nritya, accompanied by traditional musical instruments like (khol, taal, doba and nagara)and bhaonas (dramas started by Shankardev).

“The main idea is to inform the children of the vast rich heritage of Xattriya art and culture and also infuse in them spirituality through the teaching of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev to build a strong character,” said xatradhikar Janardhan Devgoswami.

“When people from abroad are coming in large numbers to learn about Xattriya art and culture, our own children should know about it too,” he said.

Devgoswami said on the concluding day, the students would be given an opportunity to perform what they are taught during the camp.