Sattriya Dance

• Context (IE): Sattriya dance has been seeing tremendous growth in the public fora.

About Sattriya Dance

• Sattriya originated in Sattra, a monastery, as a part of the neo-Vaishnavite movement in Assam.
• It includes Nritta, Nritya and Natya components.

• Sattriya dances differ from other dance forms in their basic stance. For males, it is known as Purush Pak, while for females, Prakriti Pak.
• The Sattriya dance (unlike other Classical Dance forms) has been left untouched and has been the same since its birth.
• It had its influences from folk dance forms like:
  • Ojapali,
  • Devadasi,
  • Bihu,
  • Bodos, etc.
• Strictly laid-down principles govern the Sattriya dance tradition with respect to:
  1. Hasta mudras,
  2. Footwork,
  3. Aharyas,
  4. Music, etc.
• Traditionally, Sattriya was performed only by bhokots (male monks) in monasteries as a part of their daily rituals.
• The dance is based on mythological themes. Primarily based on Krishna-Radha relations or sometimes on the stories of Ram-Sita.
• Today, Sattriya is also performed on stage by men and women who are not members of the sattras on themes that are not merely mythological.
• It has two distinctly separate streams:
  1. The Bhaona-related repertoire
  2. The Independent dance numbers

Sattriya Dance Costume

• The costume of the Sattriya dance is primarily of two types:
  1. The male costume comprises the dhoti and chadar and the paguri (turban) and
  2. The female costume comprises the ghuri, chadar and kanchi (waist cloth).
• Pat Silk saree (also spelt paat) is the most popular kind of saree used in this dance. It represents the locality through its various colourful motifs and designs.
• Traditional Assamese jewellery is used in the dance. The jewellery is made in a unique technique in Kesa Sun (raw gold).

Instruments used

• There are various musical instruments used in this dance, some of which include:
  1. Khol (drum),
  2. Bahi (flute),
  3. Violin,
  4. Tanpura,
  5. Harmonium,
  6. Shankha (Conch Shell).
• The songs are compositions of shankaradeva known as ‘Borgeets’.