The 17th death anniversary of famous Goalpariya folk singer Pratima Barua Pandey was observed with a daylong programme, organised by the Dhubri district cultural development centre, Gauripur, in association with the All Assam Students’ Union’s local unit here on Friday.

Following flag-hoisting and swahid tarpan (paying tribute to martyrs) by various local leaders, individuals and organisations, floral tributes were paid to the singer’s statue on the premises of the public library of Gauripur town.

Altogether 70 folk artistes performed several songs of Barua Pandey at the Gauripur Cultural Development Centre auditorium and paid tribute to the music legend.

District cultural development officer Jiten Kr Das said since the past couple of months, a workshop on manufacturing of local folk musical instruments and training programme for local folk artistes is under way at the Gauripur centre. “We have decided to create a world record by bringing 100 dotara and sarangi players together on a single platform,” he added.

Artistes perform during the cultural programme at Gauripur in Dhubri on Friday.

Similar memorial meetings were also organised across the district to commemorate the singer.

Barua Pandey hailed from the royal family of Gauripur in west Assam’s Dhubri district. She was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for her contribution to popularising Goalpariya folk music.

Some of her popular songs are Hastir Kanya and Oh Mur Mahut Bandhure among others.

Barua Pandey was the daughter of Prakritish Chandra Barua and niece of filmmaker Pramathesh Chandra Barua of Devdas fame.