Sattriya

In 2001, a troop of unknown artists having come from far away Assam received in Delhi, from the hands of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture, the highest reward for his dance performance. India had just discovered an essential part of its artistic heritage. After 5 centuries of existence, the Sattriya was finally recognised as one of the greatest living traditional Indian art forms, as renowned as Bharat Natyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi or Manipuri.

The north-east, geographically and culturally distant from the rest of India, has remained unknown for a long time. The State of Assam, in the Brahmaputra, saw the birth and development of a specific style of dance and dramatic art: Sattriya. This sacred and didactical spectacle is interpreted by the bhakats (artist-farmer-monks). It originates from the great Neo-Vaishnavite movement that started in the 15th century. The master Sankaradeva created it in around 1480 while being inspired by elements of the Natya Sastra (great thesis on dance-theatre-music written by Bharata around 200 AD). His name comes from the word « sattra » meaning monasteries unique in their genre.

While the neighbouring state, Manipuri was made popular through its dancers in India and abroad, Sattriya did not travel much outside the frontiers of Assam. The lack of exposure of this region and its proximity of Manipur and Assam could justify the assimilation of these two styles of dance. These two traditions are indeed both inspired by the Vaishnava literature (devotion of Vishnu); however, Sattriya presents some notable differences: for example, it does not evoke Radha, Krishna’s mistress, and does not raise the theme of hunting, due to its profound adherence to non-violence.

For the past 5 centuries these classic masterpieces are part of all religious or royal ceremonies in Assam. Around the 1940’s, a head of a monastery, friend of Ghandi, encouraged the population of Assam to learn Sattriya, that had until then been interpreted only by monks. Today, Sattriya is very popular in Assam, and is taught in schools by very good dancers.

The Dancing Monks of Majuli, grew-up to the Satras. For centuries, the elders transmitted to the youngest this art form created for them by Sankaradeva. Thus they have perfectly mastered its evolution to the present.