The 89th annual session of Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha (SSS), organised at Kaziranga Samanway Kshetra in Upper Assam’s Golaghat district, concluded on Saturday.

Addressing the concluding session, SSS general secretary Babul Bora said Assamese is a rich language and Xankardeb rightly used the language’s spirit in his writings.

“The great saint depicted the culture of Assam through his writing. He taught the nation the significance of Assamese language. This is why we may call him the Teacher of Mankind,” he added.

Appointed speaker and secretary of the Sangha’s publicity branch Sonaram Bhagawati said Xankardeb is Assam’s all-time leader.

The meeting, chaired by Sangha padadhikar (chief) Kamala Kanta Gogoi, was attended by its chief adviser Bhabendra Nath Deka and secretary of Srimanta Sankaradeva, Kalakshetra Sudarshan Thakur, among others.

The padhadhikar declared the session’s conclusion by bringing down the flag which was handed over to the Sangha’s Dibrugarh branch to hold the 90th session next year.

The devotees appreciated the organising committee’s hospitality and the police and district administration for proper management of the event under the supervision of deputy commissioner Bibhash Modi, superintendent of police Pushpraj Singh and guidance of minister Atul Bora.

The book fair with 17 publications in 60 stalls, held as part of the event, received good response. Books worth Rs 18 lakh were sold. However, booksellers resented improper management of stalls and lack of other facilities to be provided by the Sangha’s reception committee. President of the book fair sub-committee Bisweswar Tamuly accepted the allegation.