Performing arts
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Sattriya Music, Dance and Theatre
Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Shrimanta Shankaradeva (1449-1568 ) created Sattriya Nritya as a powerful medium for propagation of the Vaishnava faith. Sattriya Nritya represents an integration of art and devotion. In the second half of the 19th century, Sattriya Nritya emerged from the sanctum of Assam's sattras (monasteries) which had maintained certain rigid disciplines within its walls, and where this dance style was performed in a highly ritualistic manner by male dancers alone. On 15 November 2000, the Sangeet Natak Akademi (link) finally gave Sattriya Nritya its due recognition as one of the classical dance forms of India, alongside the other seven forms. Sattriya Nritya is accompanied by musical compositions called borgeets which are based on classical ragas.
Source IGNCA Inventory of ICH, Janapada Sampada Division, IGNCA
Contributed by Prarthana Borah, CEE Ahmedabad
Storytelling with Kaavad
"The Kaavad offers an identity to all the communities that are connected to it. Each community has multiple identities but in this specific one concerning the Kaavad they are all related. The makers get their uniqueness as they are the only ones who make them and were created to make them. They depend on the tellers to some degree to continue making the Kaavads. The tellers get their professional identity from the very name and depend on their patrons to continue the tradition. The patrons 'recognize themselves' and their ancestors in the images that the Kaavad mirrors. The myth in a way explains the reality and reinforces the dependence and synergy."