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Morigaon, 17 Oct: Vaishnavite Saint Sankardev’s Bhaona or Ankiya Nat has been performing since 15-16 centuries in Assam.Sankardev created the art form to spread religious teaching. Since 15th-16th centuries the bhaona committees have been organizing Sankardev’s Ankiya Nath in Assam .The Charaibahi committee Bhaona ,a premier bhaona committee of Assam ,also has been organizing the Sankerdev’s creation Ankiya Nats on the occasion of Rass festival every year at Charaibahi in Morigaon district.The Charaibahi Bhaona Committee is an age old committee .The Charaibahi Bhaona Committee is organizing Ankiya Nats for almost 150 years at Charaibahi in Morigaon district.It is said that before India Independence in the honour of the then queen Victoria , Charaibahi Bhaona Committee had organized a bhaona at Charaibahi . Later on the bhaona committee became popular as the Charaibahi Bhaona Committee in Assam.
Bhaona is a traditional Assamese performing art .Bhaona is called Ankiya Nat created by saint Sankardev . Bhaona or Ankiya Nat is based on religious stories from Hindu mythology. Saint Sankardev’s creation Ankiya Nat combines music, dance, and elaborate costumes to convey spiritual and moral messages. Ankiya Nat’s performance is led by a narrator-director called a Sutradhar, accompanied by singers (Gayan) and musicians (Baayan) who use traditional instruments. The ‘Ankiya Nat’was created by the Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva in the early 16th century to teach religious lessons through entertainment. Bhaona is a traditional performing art form that originated in Assam. It is a staging or performance of an Ankiya Nat or a one-act play (Ankit meaning one act and Nat means play or drama).
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Sankardev was a Vaishnavite saint and polymath from the 15-16th century CE. As Sankardev adopted a spiritual life, he traveled across the lands and came across the various tribes of the hills. With the thought of conveying religious messages and ethical ways of life, he composed several songs, which formed basis of the Ankiya Bhaona art form. Sankaradeva took inspiration from various Sanskrit texts, and modeled the bhaonas on them. The act generally involves stories from Hindu mythology and folklore. It usually revolves around the theme of victory of good over evil, and incorporates some kind of divine incorporation in the plays.
The performance can be enacted any time during the day or night, all through the year. There are no specific time restrictions or seasons prescribed for the art form. The art form are also varies across the satras (Vaishnavite religious institutions) the actors are affiliated to. A single bhaona performance can extend for days, and can be held on continuous nights.
