A video of a young woman dancing inside the holy Srimanta Sankardeva Abirbhav Kshetra at Batadrava in Assam has sparked strong public reaction across the state. The short video, recorded as a social media reel to a Hindi song, was filmed inside the sacred complex and later uploaded online. The spot shown in the clip is believed to be very close to the Guru Asana and the khol, which devotees consider deeply sacred religious objects linked to Vaishnavite faith and tradition.
As the video spread online, many people questioned whether such content should be allowed in a religious space that holds such emotional and spiritual value in Assam’s history. Some people felt the video showed a lack of respect, while others said people today must act with more awareness when inside important cultural and religious sites.
Speaking to Northeast Scoop, Batadrava Than Parisalana Samiti General Secretary Lachit Bordoloi said there were currently no formal written guidelines for video shooting or photography inside the Than. He said that the management structure of the Than was still in the process of being organised, and several development works were ongoing. 
“There is no written guideline as such,” he said. “Work is still underway. But at the same time, everyone should understand that this is a religious place. People of different faiths come here. So, when someone enters the Than, they should think carefully about what is right and wrong.”
He added that even without written rules, visitors should maintain dignity inside the premises. According to him, this is a matter of simple common sense.
Bordoloi further said that the Samiti wanted to ensure that the traditions and teachings of Srimanta Sankardeva remained respected. “We want everything to happen in the right way,” he told Northeast Scoop. “We do not want confusion or misunderstanding. People should behave with care and responsibility.”
He also said that, in his view, such incidents should not happen again in future. However, he expressed hope that awareness among people would grow, and the values of the Than would continue to be preserved.
A local resident Ranjit Mahanta involved in cultural activities also spoke to Northeast Scoop, saying that the whole issue came down to basic respect and awareness.
“This is a religious place,” he said. “Everyone knows that. There may not be written rules, but some things do not need to be written down. These are common sense matters.”
He added that while social media trends like reels were becoming more popular, people must remember there were some spaces where such activities may not be appropriate. “New generations sometimes forget,” he said. “But we all need to think before we act.”
He also said that many people in society look up to such holy places as centres of spiritual teaching, and any action taken there should match that environment. Hesaid that if someone behaves differently inside a temple or shrine, it can easily upset devotees and local people.
Meanwhile, the dance video has also raised the broader question of whether formal guidelines should now be introduced in religious and heritage sites across Assam, especially where photography and filming are becoming more common.
However, Lachit Bordoloi told Northeast Scoop that at present there were no immediate plans to bring in new regulations specifically in response to this incident. He said that if needed in future, such decisions could be discussed, but he personally felt that society should rely first on common sense and self-awareness.
“I do not think such incidents will happen again,” he said calmly. “But if something like this keeps happening again and again, then yes, maybe arrangements can be thought about. Right now, I do not see any need.”
He added that the values and atmosphere of Batadrava Than should always remain unchanged.
