Sattriya or Sattriya Nritya, is a major Indian classical dance – drama performance art. It associates its origin with the Krishna – centred Vaishnavism monasteries of Assam. The art form is attributed to the 15^th  century Bhakti movement.

The plays are usually performed in dance community halls called Namghar of monastery temples (sattras). One-act plays of Sattriya are called Ankiya Nat, which combine the aesthetic and the religious through a ballad , dance, drama. The themes played constitute of Krishna and Radha; Vishnu avatars (reincarnations) such as Rama and Sita etc.

Sattriya Nritya was recognised as a classical dance in 2000 by Sangeet Natak Akademi of India.

In some compositions, additional regional musical instruments, adopted from regional folk dances such as : Bin, Tokari, Dotara, Nagara and different styles of drums- mrdanga, dhol, dambaru etc are widely used to enhance the ambience of the art.

Assam is a land known for its animated colours, rich history and a culture which is basically a hybrid of many different traditions and values. The ethnicity of Assam is evidently very popular when it comes to visual arts and dance. Sattriya dance, is considered as one of the most narrative and descriptive in visual form of dance among the eight traditional Indian dance.

The most distinguishing feature of the Sattriya dance is the costume and the entire ensemble that looks like a convergence of various colours that all interlock together and form a significant and distinct style exhibiting Assamese culture and heritage.

                                                                                                                                                                      Avilekh Gautam

                                                                                                                                                                           (CSJMC)

                                                                                                                                                               Dibrugarh University