Ankiya Naat, a form of spiritual dance drama or play, holds significant cultural and religious importance within the Assamese community. Authored by the revered saint Srimanta Shankardeva in the 15th century, these performances are deeply intertwined with folk rituals and sacred practices conducted in Naam Ghars and Sattras, the community's congregational places of worship. This research paper aims to explore the social and familial roles expected of men and women within the cultural and religious framework of Ankiya Naat performances in Assamese society. It will examine the gender roles, cultural construction, representation, interpretation, and their portrayal within the context of Ankiya Naat. It also aims to elucidate the generational transformations and deviations in the sacred traditions and rituals usually practiced by both the genders in the Assamese society, which are associated with Ankiya Naat and Bhaona performances. A combination of ethnographic methodology, textual analysis, and interviews were used as the primary research methods.
Research Scholar, Department of English, Sikkim University, Gangtok
