The sacred complex of Billeswar Devalaya (study)
by Rajesh Kakati | 2019 | 72,486 words
This essay studies the sacred complex of Billeswar Devalaya by exploring the historical, cultural, and religious significance of this ancient shrine in Assam (northeastern India). It emphasizes how this temple, also known as Billbeshwar Devaloy, functions as a focal point of faith and tradition for the surrounding communities. The research further ...
Part 4 - Performing Arts and Sociological aspect
Despite various types of mobilization of the people residing at the different places attached with the Billeswar Devalaya Complex, the impact of folk performing arts upon them is apparently witnessed. The lives of the people are grown being affected by the folk performances since their childhood under the aegis of the Billeswar Devalaya. The festivals celebrated by the Devalaya have been attracting a huge number of people which entail fairs and entertaining source. The fairs are highly popular amongst the people where lots of utensils, clothes, toys and other necessary items for households are sold. The attending people become ready to purchase the items during these fairs held with the festivals.
There are two utilities of such fairs. These are:
a) Geographically static people get a wonderful privilege of availing various types of shops at a same place and at a comparatively cheaper rate.
b) By the time the Devalaya organizes a fair, people get time to accumulate money by selling their agricultural products.
c) Moreover the folk people are overwhelmed by the festivities and become impulsive for purchasing their essential goods.
The Billeswar Devalaya Complex was originally a place of bartering of agricultural products with the people coming from Bhutan Kingdom till the advent of 20th century. This tradition is being maintained keeping pace with the changing scenario amongst the local people. At present times the people having settled down in other places of Assam originally hailed from the locality of Billeswar Devalaya. Traditionally visit the festivals and purchase goods in the fairs. It has also been a long prevailing tradition to make a religious and recreational visit to the Devalaya by the in-laws and distant kin of the people of the locality.