The Aryavarth Express
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched the Financial Assistance Scheme for Udasin Bhakats, under which celibate Vaishnavite monks associated with Satras will receive a monthly financial aid of ₹1,500.
The scheme, announced in the previous year’s state budget, aims to support Udasin Bhakats—monks who lead a celibate life in Udasin Sattras, a distinct tradition within Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism. Satras function as important religious, cultural, and social institutions in Assam, where devotees, known as bhakats, gather for prayers and spiritual practices.
Speaking at the launch event in Guwahati, the Chief Minister said the government has now implemented the promised scheme. He added that efforts would be made to include any eligible Udasin Bhakats who may have been left out.
According to the Chief Minister, a total of 620 Udasin Bhakats across the state will benefit from the initiative. Majuli accounts for the highest number with 474 beneficiaries, followed by Jorhat (54), Lakhimpur (22), Kamrup (14), Barpeta (10), Dhubri and Goalpara (8 each), Nagaon (7), Golaghat and Nalbari (6 each), Sivasagar (5), and Sonitpur and Udalguri (3 each).
Highlighting the cultural significance of Satras, Sarma said they have preserved Assam’s values and traditions for centuries. In a post on X, he stated that supporting Udasin Bhakats was a way of honoring their lifelong dedication to the path of Bhakti and the spiritual legacy of Srimanta Sankardev, also known as Gurujona.
Majuli, the world’s largest river island, remains the heart of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism and is home to most of the state’s Satras, making it central to the spiritual and cultural life of Assam.
