{"id":92068,"date":"2026-03-10T17:04:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T11:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=92068"},"modified":"2026-03-10T17:04:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T11:34:02","slug":"sattriya-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/sattriya-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Sattriya Dance, Origin, Features, Music, Exponents, History"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sattriya Dance is a classical dance tradition from Assam that developed within the Vaishnavite monasteries known as Sattras. It emerged during the Bhakti movement in the 15th century under the guidance of saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev. Originally performed as devotional dance-drama, Sattriya integrates music, expressive acting, and rhythmic movements to communicate spiritual stories and moral teachings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Sattriya Dance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sattriya Dance is one of the eight recognised classical dance traditions of India. The dance form evolved from monastic devotional performances connected with Ankiya Nat plays and Vaishnavite practices. It gradually moved from temple spaces to public stages while preserving its traditional structure and aesthetics.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Also Read: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/manipuri-dance\/\" target=\"_blank\">Manipuri Dance<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><b>Sattriya Dance Features<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sattriya Dance represents a devotional cultural tradition shaped by monastic rituals, classical dramaturgy, and Assamese music traditions. The key features of the dance form has been listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Origin<\/strong>: Sattriya originated in Assam\u2019s Vaishnavite monasteries called Sattras during the 15th century.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>History<\/strong>: It developed as a devotional art associated with the Ek Sharan Naam Dharma philosophy propagated by saint Srimanta Sankardev to promote devotion to one supreme deity. The modern structure of Sattriya was systematised by Sankardev and his disciple Madhavdev. Dance-dramas based on the Bhagavata Purana were performed as Ankiya Nat plays inside monasteries, combining religious teaching with dramatic storytelling and expressive dance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Classical Status<\/strong>: In November 2000, the Sangeet Natak Akademi formally recognised Sattriya as one of India\u2019s eight classical dance traditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Components<\/strong>: Sattriya performances combine three core elements-\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Nritta:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> represents abstract rhythmic movements,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Nritya:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> expresses emotions through gestures and expressions, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Natya:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves dramatic storytelling through dialogue, mime, and symbolic actions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Basic Stance<\/strong>: The dance has distinctive body positions known as Purush Pak for male dancers and Prakriti Pak for female dancers. These stances define posture, energy level, and movement style throughout performances.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Themes<\/strong>: The dance largely depicts mythological narratives related to Krishna and Radha, stories of Rama and Sita, and episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Streams<\/strong>: Sattriya includes two main repertories. The Bhaona-related tradition begins with Gayan-Bhayanar Nach and continues to Kharmanar Nach, while independent dance numbers include Chali, Rajagharia Chali, Jhumura, and Nadu Bhangi.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Dance Structure<\/strong>: The basic training unit in Sattriya is called Mati Akhara. There are sixty-four foundational exercises divided into categories such as Ora, Saata, Jhalak, Sitika, Pak, Jap, Lon, and Khar which develop control, balance, and rhythmic accuracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Costume<\/strong>: Male dancers traditionally wear dhoti, chadar, and paguri turban, while female performers wear ghuri, chadar, and kanchi waist cloth. Costumes often use Pat silk from Assam with decorative motifs representing regional artistic traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Ornaments<\/strong>: Performers wear traditional Assamese ornaments crafted using Kesa Sun technique made from raw gold. Popular ornaments include Kopali forehead pieces, Muthi Kharu bracelets, Dhulbiri necklaces, and other culturally symbolic jewellery designs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Music Tradition<\/strong>: Sattriya performances are accompanied by devotional songs known as Borgeets composed by Sankardev and Madhavdev. These compositions follow classical ragas and form an essential musical foundation of the dance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Musical Instruments<\/strong>: The primary instrument used is the Khol, a two-sided drum producing high and deep tones. Other instruments include cymbals such as Manjira and Bhortal, Bahi flute, violin, tanpura, harmonium, and conch shell.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traditional Performers<\/strong>: Historically the dance was performed only by male monks called Bhokots within monastery rituals. Over time, it expanded beyond the Sattras and is now performed by both male and female artists on professional stages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Prominent Exponents<\/strong>: Important artists who promoted the tradition include Guru Jatin Goswami, Ghanakanta Bora, Manik Barbayan, Bhabananda Barbayan, Sharodi Saikia, Indira PP Bora, Anita Sharma, Anwesha Mahanta, and Mallika Kandali.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Recent Recognition<\/strong>: Dance historian Dr. Sunil Kothari was honoured with the Madhabdev Award by the Government of Assam for his contribution to popularising Sattriya dance and promoting its cultural significance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also Read: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/classical-dances-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">Classical Dances of India<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sattriya Dance is a classical dance of Assam developed in Vaishnavite Sattras by Srimanta Sankardev, blending devotion, dance-drama, music, and storytelling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":92061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5989,5988],"class_list":{"0":"post-92068","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-indian-art-and-culture","9":"tag-sattriya-dance","10":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92068"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92079,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92068\/revisions\/92079"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}