Guwahati: The three-day celebration of Ahom General Lachit Barphukan’s 400th birthday will get under way in New Delhi on Wednesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will open an exhibition in honour of the event this morning at Vigyan Bhawan.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijijju will attend as the Chief Guest in the evening of the cultural event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the closing ceremony on Friday, November 25.
While addressing to media, Assam Handloom Minister U G Brahma said that the exhibition will feature the village life and culture of Assam as well as the activities of Lachit Barphukan.
The major goal of the 400th birth anniversary celebration at the nation’s capital is to educate the populace about Lachit Barphukan’s bravery and military prowess. In the latter half of the 17th century, Lachit Barphukan, a renowned general of the vast Ahom army, beat the Mughals and put an end to Aurangzeb’s growing ambitions.
The Ahoms had one of the longest reigns in history, ruling Assam for more than 600 years. Lachit Barphukan was gravely ill at the time of the Ahoms’ confrontation with the powerful Mughals at Saraighat in 1671. Lachit Barphukan, a true commander, led from the front and routed the Mughals despite his poor health.