Due to various historical reasons, perennial resource constraints, advent of modernity and other such issues, the egalitarian mission of taking the entire lot of tribal and ethnic groups to the caring fold of the core of the Assamese society has faced several historical roadblocks. We have come across numerous examples of great desire on the part of the ethnic groups and the tribes to be a part of the Sankaradeva tradition and be an equal stakeholder in the great socio-cultural ethos. The Sattras in general are also generally of the opinion that time is now to walk the extra mile to build inter community bridges in Assam as investment in social security and social capital.

In the above background the Setubandha Programme was conceived and Bhaona was made the chief medium in this programme to get across to the people to build bridges. Bhaona is a time tested vehicle of lokasangraha of not only bringing people together but also with the purpose of making the people realise about ones purpose of life and to realise the truth or the Supreme Divine in his or her own life time. Therefore, by organising Bhaonas, the Foundation strongly feels that it will raise the consciousness of the people both at the individual and collective level for a better and ideal society which Srimanta Sankaradeva or our ancestors dreamt of.

Srimanta Foundation in collaboration with the Asom Sattra Mahasabha, the apex organization of the Sattras in Assam, had for the first time organized this programme in 2003 at Guwahati.