Guwahati: As many as 96 flags were raised on Thursday in Sankardev Kalakshetra by notable Assamese individuals for the 96th birthday of renowned Assamese vocalist Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.
The Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust has planned a two-day event in Kalakshetra in honour of Bhupen Hazarika’s birth anniversary.
The distinguished individuals who raised the flags came from a variety of professions, including college professors, artists, and craftspeople, among others.
The main flag was hoisted by eminent Sattriya dancer Jatin Goswami.
The Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cultural Trust flag, the Kalakshetra flag, and a memorial flag created particularly for the occasion were the three principal flags.
A representative of the Cultural Trust stated, “Bhupendra Jyoti magazine promotion is slated in the two-day event.”
“Various cultural programmes will be organised in the evening inside Madhabdev Kalakshetra, where Assamese artists will sing songs and awards will be given out,” he added.
The two-day event began on Wednesday with a singing competition that the Trust organised for kids from several educational institutes in Assam.
A few events are also being held at the Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi in Jalukbari in the meantime.
Hazarika, who was born on September 8, 1926, in Assam’s Sadiya, grew up in a setting full of songs and legends about life by the Brahmaputra River. He recorded his first song when he was just ten years old.
Hazarika won the hearts of many with his performances in blockbuster movies like “Rudali,” “Mil Gayi Manzil Mujhe,” “Saj,” “Darmiyan,” “Gajgamini,” “Daman,” and “Kyun.”
The undisputed legend has received numerous honours over his illustrious career, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his extraordinary contributions to music and culture.
In 2019, he was also given the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, posthumously.
Bhupen Hazarika departed for his heavenly dwelling on November 5, 2011.