The preparation for the 89th session of Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha (SSS), the biggest spiritual organisation in the Northeast, began officially by erecting the laikhuta, the main post of the pandal, at World Heritage Kaziranga Sammanya Khsetra at Bardihingia of Kamargaon in Assam’s Golaghat district on Sunday.

The laikhuta was erected by the padadhikar, the chief of the Sangha, Kamalakanta Gogoi, for the session to be held from February 5 to 8.

The padadhikar erected the 45-feet high post made of a palm tree (Borassus flabellifer) donated by Indrakanta Doley of Bokakhat town primary unit of the Sabha at a religious function to the beats of daba, kahn, sankha and others. A cleanliness drive was carried out, followed by the naamprasanga.

The gathering was addressed by state agriculture minister and MLA of Bokakhat constituency, Atul Bora.

Inaugurating the open meeting chaired by Gogoi at Bardihingia Natyamandir, the general secretary of the Sanga, Babul Bora, said a news portal was launched to coordinate the activities of the members.

He said the primary units were opened at Maharashtra and the Sankardeva Cooperative Bank and for the benefits of the unemployed youths, Rs 7 crore had been released.

The meeting was addressed by the chief adviser of the Sangha, Bhabendra Nath Deka, and Golaghat deputy commissioner Dhiren Hazarika.

The meeting was attended by former MLA Arun Phukan, joint secretary Kushal Thakuria, vice-president of Golaghat zilla parishad Rasmi Kakati, president of the All Assam Journalists’ Association, Jitu Sarmah Rajkhowa, the president of the reception committee, Dharmeswar Hazarika, among others.

Earlier, the fifth executive meeting of the Sangha was held and it was decided to invite President Ramnath Kovind to the session in February.

The budget of the four-day mega event is around Rs 2.8 crore.