Ankiya Naat and Bhaona
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
Devotional one-act plays created by Srimanta Sankardev, performed as Bhaona in namghars and satras with music, dance, masks and a narrator called the sutradhar.
Folk theatreWhere: AssamOccasion: Religious festivals, Raas in Majuli, and occasions in the village namghar
| Performed by | Traditionally men of the village or satra, who play all roles including female ones |
|---|---|
| Costume | Bright costumes, crowns and painted masks for demons and animals, many made in the satras of Majuli |
| Music and instruments | Khol (drum), taal (cymbals) and devotional songs in Brajavali language |
How it is performed
- The musicians open the performance with drums and cymbals (Gayan-Bayan).
- The sutradhar, the narrator, enters, sings and dances, and introduces the story.
- The actors perform scenes from the lives of Krishna and Rama, speaking and singing in Brajavali.
- The sutradhar guides the play throughout, explaining scenes and linking them together.
- The play ends with a prayer, and the audience joins in.
Significance
Sankardev wrote the Ankiya Naat to spread the message of devotion to all people in a language they could follow. Bhaona remains a living tradition in Assamese villages.