Dances of Assam

Bihu Dance

With the onset of the spring and the budding of flowers, the cuckoo, in its sweet heralding voice, calls for the youths to swing their bodies to the melodious tunes of the flute and the grasping beats of the ‘Dhul’. Bihu, the most famed folk dance, engulfs the whole environment and intoxicates the people with its rhythmic exuberance that has no rival other than the Bhangra. A true mirror of the youthful passion, ‘Joie-de-vivre’ and the reproductive urge of the people of Assam, Bihu is danced by the youths of Assam where they coordinate among themselves beautifully in terms of brisk steps, swaying of hips and flip-flopping of hands.

Sattriya Dance

Sattriya Dance, an epitome of the rich Assamese dance culture, sprouted from the Vaishnavite philosophy of Sri Sankardev and has recently gained the recognition of one among the chief classical dance forms of India. This term “Sattriya” originated from the term for the monasteries the “Sattra”, also founded by Sankardev himself.

The style of the dance form has undergone refinement in the recent years although the basic structure is still the same. When the Sattriya dance is accompanied with a style swarming in lyric and grace, the performer is in a position to give a solo performance. The performers communicate the legendary stories of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna by means of gentle and slow body and hand movements. Cymbals is the backbone of the music played in the dance that supports the Raga and other songs.