AnkiaNaats 

AnkiaNaats are a class of one act plays performed in Assam, India. The invention of the AnkiaNaat is usually credited to the medieval saint and social reformer SrimantaSankardeva. These plays were written in afake Assamese-Maithili mixed language namedBrajavali and are chieflypositioned on Krishna. A particular performance of an AnkiaNaat is called a Bhaona. The plays usually conglomerate live instruments and singers, dance and elaborate costumes in production.

The performance of an AnkiaNaat starts with benediction in Sanskrit followed by tribute to God in Brajavali. The play usually starts with the introduction, or Purvaranga. Playing of the traditional beating instruments accompanied by the big cymbal by the singer and musician duo (Gayan, Bayan) in a group. The instruments are played with hand movements and in two paces called Saru-Dhemali and Bor-Dhemali. After the introduction, the narrator, or Sutradhar, enters the stage and begins the actual performance.

AnkiaNaat was intended to be viewed by common folk in medieval Assam, majority of whom were expected to be illiterate. Andescription was included at every following stage of the drama. The Sutradhar had to attend to various tasks like production, direction and broughtrecital of the entire drama. The songs in AnkiaNaat are also evocative.

BhortalNritya is known to have advanced by NarahariBurhaBhakat. He was a well-known Satriya artist. This BhortalNritya of Barpeta district is said to have resulting from the classical dance form of the state. This is one of the most popular dances in the state of Assam.

Performance— this dance is performed in a group. Six or seven dancers existing the Bhortal dance of Assam together. This dance can be performed in larger groups as well. It is performed to a very wild beat. This beat is known as ‘Zhiya Nom’. The dancers are armed with cymbals while performing this dance. The use of the cymbals makes the dance presentation seem very colorful. The dance movements are planned as such that they can produce some very colorful patters. This is the uniqueness of this dance from Assam.

Jhumair is a traditional dance form of "Adivasi" or Tea tribe’s community of Assam. The dance is performed by young girls and boys together. The male members dress long traditional dresses and keep the rhythm with few traditional musical instruments, normally a Dhol or Mandar, hung on shoulders, a flute and a pair of "Taal" (two metallic discs). The girls mostly perform the dancing part, holding each other's waist and moving hands and legs forward and backward synchronously. The dance has a huge following in the "Tea tribe" dominated districts of Assam, like Udalguri, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.