After centuries of wait, the people of Assam will get to see the ‘Vrindabani Vastra’ with their own eyes in Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday directed the Cultural Affairs department to take all possible measures to hold an exhibition of the ‘Vrindabani Vastra’ in the October next year.
The ‘Vrindabani Vastra’ is a drape woven by Assamese weavers during 16th century under the guidance of Vaishnavite Saint and scholar Srimanta Sankardeva.
The large drape of Silk cloth has illustrations about childhood activities of lord Krishna in Vrindaban through weaving. First woven between 1567 and 1569, it was taken to Bhutan and then later to Tibet, where European merchants brought it and took it to Europe.
Some pieces of the textiles are presently in possession of the British Museum and the Victoria Albert Museum in london, Guimet Museum in Paris, New Ark Museum in New Jersey, Museum of Venice and Calico Museum of Textile in Ahmedabad.
This divine cloth housed in the British Museum is the largest in size. The Guimet Museum has two Bastras in its possession. They are made of pure silk with double layered weaving. All these pieces reflect the textile skill of different ages.
The unique piece of heritage textile will remain on display in Assam for three months from October and the government has decided to set up a special state-of-the-art exhibition hall at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati fulfilling all requirements needed for proper conservation of the Vrindavani Vastra.
Sonowal asked the Cultural Affairs Department to coordinate with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi under Ministry of Culture for bringing the Vastra to Assam for display and also to make necessary provision of fund in the ensuing State Budget for the purpose.
It may be mentioned here that former Assam Speaker and present president of Assam BJP Ranjit Dass had taken the initiative of bringing back the Vrindavani Vastra to Assam during his recent visits to london and Paris.
Dass had earlier told that he has got verbal confirmation from the authorities at museums in london and Paris during his recent visits.