In News: The 18th Raseshwar Saikia Barbayan Sattriya Award 2026 was presented in Guwahati.

The 18th Raseshwar Saikia Barbayan Sattriya Award 2026 was conferred on Khana Das, an eminent Borgeet artiste, and Likhan Sarmah, a distinguished tabla player and social worker, during a ceremony organised by Sangeet Sattra, Guwahati at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. The event also marked the beginning of the 58th Annual Dance and Music Festival of Sangeet Sattra, celebrating Assam’s rich classical music and dance traditions.

Key Highlights

• The Raseshwar Saikia Barbayan Sattriya Award recognises individuals for their outstanding contribution to the promotion and preservation of Sattriya dance, Borgeet, and Assam’s classical performing arts.
• The award ceremony was organised by Sangeet Sattra, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the Sattriya tradition.
• Governor of Chhattisgarh Ramen Deka presented the awards to the recipients.
• The event highlighted the importance of preserving Assam’s Vaishnavite cultural heritage and encouraging younger generations to engage with traditional art forms.

About Sattriya

• Sattriya dance originated in the Sattras (Vaishnavite monasteries) of Assam as part of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement propagated by Srimanta Sankardev.
• It is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, officially recognised in 2000.
• The dance form comprises three main components, namely Nritta (pure dance), Nritya (expressive dance), and Natya (dramatic representation).
• The basic stance differs for male and female performers, where the male style is known as Purush Pak and the female style as Prakriti Pak.
• Sattriya dance is unique among classical forms as it has remained largely unchanged since its origin in monastic traditions.
• It has been influenced by local traditions such as Ojapali, Devadasi, Bihu, and Bodo dance forms.
• The dance follows strictly codified principles related to hasta mudras, footwork, costumes (aharya), and music.
  

Traditional and Modern Practice

• Traditionally, Sattriya was performed exclusively by male monks known as “Bhokots” inside the Sattras as part of religious rituals.
• The dance is primarily based on mythological themes, especially Krishna–Radha and Ram–Sita narratives.
• In contemporary times, Sattriya is performed on stage by both men and women, including non-monastic performers, and covers both religious and secular themes.
• The dance tradition has two distinct streams:
  • Bhaona-related performances (dramatic tradition)
  • Independent dance repertoire

Sattriya Dance Costume

• The male costume consists of a dhoti, chadar, and paguri (turban).
• The female costume consists of a ghuri, chadar, and kanchi (waist cloth).
• The costumes are typically made of Assamese Pat (Paat) silk, known for its rich motifs and vibrant designs.
• The dancers wear traditional Assamese jewellery, often crafted using Kesa Sun (raw gold technique).
  

Musical Instruments Used

• The Sattriya dance is accompanied by instruments such as the khol (drum) and bahi (flute).
• Other instruments include the violin, tanpura, harmonium, and shankha (conch shell).
  

About Borgeet

• Borgeet literally means “celestial songs” and is a unique tradition of Assamese devotional music.
• It was introduced by Srimanta Sankardeva during the 15th–16th century as part of the Neo-Vaishnavite Bhakti Movement in Assam.
• Madhavdeva, the chief disciple of Sankardeva, further enriched the tradition by composing over 200 Borgeets.
• Most Borgeets are dedicated to Lord Krishna, expressing devotion, love and spiritual surrender.
• The compositions are written in Brajavali, a literary language developed by Srimanta Sankardeva by blending Assamese with Maithili.

Borgeet History

• The origins of Borgeet can be traced back to the early 1500s. 
• Sankardeva composed the first Borgeet during his pilgrimage to Badrikashram around 1488. 
  • This period coincides with the birth of Dhrupad in the court of Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior.
• Sankardeva composed around 240 Borgeets, but unfortunately, a fire destroyed most of them, leaving only about 34 that were later retrieved from memory. 
• Madhavdeva composed more than 200 Borgeets, focusing mainly on the Child-Krishna. 

Linguistic and Literary Aspects of Borgeet

• The structure of Borgeets are modeled after the Charyapada, an ancient collection of Buddhist mystical poems.
• Every Borgeet is composed in a specific raga, but unlike many classical music forms, it generally does not follow a fixed tala (rhythm).
• Khol (drum) and taal (cymbals) are the principal musical instruments used during Borgeet performances.
• Borgeets are an integral part of worship in Satras and Namghars, where they are sung during religious ceremonies and prayers.
• Borgeet forms an important component of Assam’s Sattriya cultural tradition, which includes music, dance and devotional theatre.
• The tradition has played a significant role in preserving Assamese cultural identity, literature and classical music heritage.
• Efforts by cultural institutions and scholars continue to preserve and promote Borgeet as an important element of India’s intangible cultural heritage.

Exam Hook – Prelims

Q. Sattriya, recognised as one of India’s classical dance forms, originated in which state?

Answer: Assam

One-line Wrap: The Raseshwar Saikia Barbayan Sattriya Award highlights Assam’s continued efforts to preserve and promote its globally recognised Sattriya and Borgeet traditions.