Barpeta Sattra Vaishnavite Monastery Music Assam

The Barpeta Sattra (also spelled Satra) in Barpeta district of Assam is one of the most important surviving Vaishnavite monastery-complexes (sattra) established by the reformer-saint Srimanta Shankardev in the 16th century and his disciple Madhavdev as centres of the neo-Vaishnavism reform movement (Eka Sharana Naam Dharma). The sattra system established by Shankardev transformed Assamese cultural and artistic life by institutionalizing performance of Bhaona (religious drama), Sattriya dance, naam-prasanga (devotional singing), and manuscript copying within communal monastic compounds. Barpeta Sattra is among the largest active sattras with over 800 bhakat (devotee-residents) at peak attendance during Holi (Doul Utsav) festival, when the five-day Doul performance involves mask-dance, percussion, and Sattriya dance by trained bhakats. The sattra tradition maintains hand-painted manuscript copies of Shankardev's Kirtan Ghoxa scripture and illustrated Haagrama Gaitha devotional poetry on saanchi bark paper — a rapidly disappearing book-arts tradition. Sattriya dance was recognized as a classical Indian dance form by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000. The Barpeta Sattra's school of Sattriya teaches the Bargeet style of devotional song with instrumental accompaniment on the khol drum and taal cymbals. Pilgrims and cultural tourists visit Barpeta Sattra year-round with peak at Doul Utsav in March. Documentation of sattra manuscript collections by National Mission for Manuscripts.