Context: Recently, Sattriya dance was performed during the Rongali Bihu celebrations in Assam. Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu) marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, coinciding with the first day of Hindu Solar calendar (mid April/ Baisakha).
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sattriya Dance.
About Sattriya Dance
- The Sattriya dance of Assam is one of the eight classical dance forms of India.
- It derives its name from the ‘satras’ (Vaishnavite monasteries) of Assam.
- It emerged in the 15th century as part of the neo-Vaishnavite Bhakti movement spearheaded by Srimanta Sankardev (a saint and social reformer).
- It is based on the Borgeet (devotional songs) composed by Sankardev and his disciple Madhavadev.
- The dance was originally practiced solely by male bhokots (monks), and its performance was strictly limited to the confines of the satras.
- Now, the dance can be categorised into two styles:
- Paurashik Bhangi: masculine style involves more energetic gestures and leaps.
- Stri Bhangi: feminine style characterised by more delicate gestures and poised feminine movements.
- The dance is a crucial part of the region’s neo-Vaishnavite worship system. It is a vibrant expression of devotion, spirituality, and tradition. It combines the elements- nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance) and natya (drama).