Husari and Bihunas
The two main forms of dancing are Husari and Bihunas.
Husari is carol singing. Batches of boys and young men led by older men
go from house to house, sing and dance in the front or back courtyard
and collect subscriptions to be spent on repairing the village Namghar
(community centre) and on feasting. The dance commences with singing of
hymns led by a comparatively elder person. The music is staccato. Each
dance lasts only a minute or two. Husari is more religious than festive
and gives clear indications of the origin of the
Bihu festival in some ancient fertility cult. Bihu songs and dances
invariably follow the main item of Husari singing which consists of specially
composed songs of religious themes sung by members of the party
moving in a circle. These songs have a wide range of folk-tunes and are
sung in praise of the great festival with the music of accompanying drums
and various bamboo instruments. It is a dance of youth and of the spirit
of spring, it expresses an exuberant spirit, like a Bihu song, it tends
to express the erotic sentiment more than anything else. The Bihu drummer,
often utters his bols and follows their reproduction on his drum, and
then dances in such a way that he appears to have no bones in his body
at all.
Top
Dhuliya and Bhawariya
Generally accompanying bhawuas, i.e. theatrical performances
of the type of miracle plays of Europe in the middle ages. These dances
verging on acrobatics are performed to tunes of vigorous music provided
with drums and cymbals. Masks are sometimes used.
Top
Deodhani
This dance form is associated with the worship of the
snake goddess Manasa. A Deodhani girl, in a trance like inspired state,
goes on dancing to the accompaniment of Kham (drum) and Ciphung (flute)
propitiating many a deity beginning with
Siva and ending with Lakshmi,
she at one stage takes a sword and a shield and performs a virile war-dance.\
Top
Zikirs
Zikirs are songs sung by Assamese Muslims to the accompaniment
of dancing in circles and clapping of hands.
Top
Mohauhau or
Mahkheda
It is also considered as a festival. In Kamrup district on
a full moon night in Nov-Dec, boys in groups go from house to house and
sing and dance, striking the ground with bamboo sticks and taking leaps
and turns. The ceremony is believed to be helpful in driving away mosquitoes.
Top
Apsara-Sabah
This is a ceremony in which the nymphs of the air are invoked
during calamities and lean times, women with flowing hair dance in circles.
The rhythm is provided by striking bamboo sticks on conch-shells or bangles.
Top
|
