Rhythms of Brahmaputra

In our beautiful orb of infinite diversity, the state of Assam in India stands as a beacon of this unique quality.

- by Saurav Ranjan Datta

Assam is like a cauldron, where diverse people, cultures, languages, ethnicities, religions, etc. have all mingled to form a distinctive language of love and bonhomie. The state has so much to offer that its repertoire seems inexhaustible when it comes to the various metrics of human civilization.

Either geographically or culturally, Assam stands unmatched in its multifariousness. The various people of this land: the Assamese, Bengalis, Bodos, Dimasas, Karbis, Miris, Garos, Manipuris, Kacharis, Kukis, Rabhas, Hajongs, Chakmas, and several other tribes have all contributed to its art, culture, and music. Each tribe has its own distinct history of folk music, and each of these musical traditions has contributed to the collective musical legacy of this region.

One of Assam's most distinguishing musical heritages is 'Ojapali', an epic storytelling tradition that involves songs, dances, chorus singing, dramatic gestures, etc. Historically, Ojapali was derived from the widely practised 'kathakata' tradition, according to popular theories, although there are other references linking it to the epics and mythology. Its performance has typically involved stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Manashamangal, and traditional folk tales, to the various sagas of our freedom movement. The region of Darrang district is said to have made it popular, where it especially got a firm footing under King Dharmanarayana (of the 17th century CE). The presentation of Ojapali generally involves an Oja (the lead performer) and his Palis (the chorus), hence the name.

The Ramayana and Mahabharata stories are also used while performing 'Tokari-geet', a folk tradition that is carried out with the help of Tokari, an ancient string instrument of Assam, which can be played with fingers.