Sattriya: The Monastery Dance of Assam

For centuries, only monks were allowed to perform this dance, inside monastery walls. It took 500 years to reach a public stage.

MCQ Questions

Sattriya

From Monastery Ritual to Public Stage

15th century

Founded by Srimanta Sankardev

Born inside Assam‘s Vaishnavite monasteries, or “sattras,” as devotional practice.

For centuries

Performed only by monks

Male “bhokots” perform Ankiya Naat dance-dramas, based on the Bhagavata Purana, as ritual worship.

Nov 2000

Classical recognition

The Sangeet Natak Akademi names Sattriya one of India’s eight classical dance forms.

Today

Open to all performers

Women and non-monastic dancers now perform Sattriya, on themes beyond the original mythology.

One dance, two moods: a single Sattriya performance blends an energetic, masculine style with a delicate, feminine one, both taught within the same monastic tradition.

Assam mcqquestion.com

⬇ Download as image

Must Know

• Sattriya is a classical dance form from Assam.
• It originated in the 15th century, inside Vaishnavite monasteries called “sattras.”
• It was founded by the saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev.
• In November 2000, the Sangeet Natak Akademi recognised it as one of India’s eight classical dance forms.

Good to Know

• Sattriya grew out of the Bhakti movement and Sankardev’s “Ek Sharan Naam Dharma” philosophy.
• That philosophy centres on devotion to a single supreme deity.
• The dance was performed as part of “Ankiya Naat,” dance-dramas based on the Bhagavata Purana.
• Traditionally, only “bhokots” (male monks) performed it, as a form of daily ritual worship.
• A single performance blends two styles: an energetic, masculine mode and a delicate, feminine mode.
• The male costume includes a dhoti, a chadar (wrap), and a paguri (turban).
• The female costume includes a ghuri, a chadar, and a kanchi (waist cloth).
• Costumes today are usually woven from Assam’s own silks: pat and the golden-hued muga.

Test Yourself

Please wait…

1. Sattriya is a classical dance form that originated in which Indian state?

Odisha

Assam

Manipur

Bihar

 Loading…

 

Great to Know

• Sankardev’s disciple, Madhavdev, helped systematise Sattriya into its lasting classical structure.
• For centuries, the dance stayed inside monastery walls, closed to outside and mixed-gender performance.
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi’s 2000 recognition helped move it onto public stages for the first time.
• Women and non-monastic performers now dance Sattriya too, on themes beyond its original mythological stories.
• Some women performers have taken on male roles, echoing monks who once specialised in female roles within all-male casts.
• For Manipuri, another regional classical dance form, see ArtnCulture0097 — Manipuri: The Classical Dance of Manipur.