Communal Harmony: Muslim family first to receive Prasad in Sivasagar

The Assamese Muslim family of the Doullahs earlier used to beat the traditional drums in the temple.

The centuries-old Devi Doul or Durga temple in Assam’s Sivasagar district began the festivities on the auspicious occasion of Maha Ashtami by distributing Prasad to a Muslim family.

This displays a shining instance of communal harmony, resuming the age-old practice after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Assamese Muslim family of the Doullahs used to beat the traditional drums (nagaras) in the temple once upon a time.

Sharing his thoughts on the revival of the tradition, Secretary of the temple development board Basanta Gogoi expresses immense pleasure to revive the medieval-era tradition of communal harmony that the Covid-19 pandemic had put the brakes on.

It is believed that it was during the reign of Ahom kings in the medieval period that this practice is believed to have first started.

Although there is no documented account of this tradition, the temple management said that the family of Konseng Borpatragohain, the first Borpatragohain, one of the three great Gohains (counselors) in the Ahom kingdom established by Suhungmung Dihingia Raja in the year 1527, received the prasad of peace.

To revive the tradition, Tosmia Doullah, daughter of Monirud Doullah, who died of Covid last year, along with her family, attended the ceremony this Ashtami.

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