NCERT Class 6 Hindi Malhar Chapter 08 Sattriya Aur Bihu Nritya (सत्रिया और बिहू नृत्य) PDF Download

Chapter 8: Sattriya aur Bihu Nritya

Angela lived in a well-known area of London. Her school was not far from home. She had no siblings. She loved spending time with friends named James and Kira. Together they would play many imaginative games. They enjoyed becoming characters in stories about distant worlds. Angela loved every story in which she could travel to the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, or the Colosseum. She had no idea that her stories about travels would soon become true.

Angela's mother, Alessandra, was a documentary filmmaker. She had received financial support from the British Academy in London to make a documentary about the dance traditions of Assam. The tricky part was that she had only one month to complete this work. She obtained permission from Angela's school to extend her spring vacation by a week, so Angela and her father Brian could go with them. Angela was surprised by the quickly planned trip, but since her mother needed to complete the work on time, they all prepared to leave soon.

Before Angela could understand what was happening, she was already on a flight to Guwahati via New Delhi from London. During the journey, her mother told Angela about the beauty of Assam. Assam is in the north-eastern region of India, known for its wildlife, silk and tea plantations. Assam also has a rich tradition of dance. The centre of Alessandra's documentary was to explore the importance of dance in the lives of the people of Assam. They were arriving in April, which is the time of the new year in Assam. In celebration of the arrival of spring, people celebrate a festival called 'Bihu'. Angela was going to watch it that very night.

After settling in a hotel in Guwahati, they went to a nearby village called Malang that same evening. When they reached the village, Angela's mother told her that Bihu is an agriculture-based festival. A large portion of India's population consists of farmers. In Assam, Bihu is celebrated three times a year. First, when farmers sow seeds, then when they plant rice, and finally when the crops are ready in the fields.

[Figure: Map showing route from London to Guwahati, See in your textbook]

Angela got out of the car and was amazed to see a festive atmosphere all around. A large stage had been set up under a big banyan tree. The place was filled with people. Angela had never seen so many people gathered together under a tree before. Sitting among the people under the open sky, she felt as if she had accidentally stepped into a time machine! Or was she in a world of dreams? She was mesmerized watching boys and girls dancing on the arrival of spring. Angela noticed that the boys were holding musical instruments and the girls were wearing beautiful costumes with deep designs in red and brown colours. They all looked quite colourful and cheerful. Their moving bodies and the movement of their hands and feet showed that they were lost in the joy of dance. She wished she could also dance like this at home on the arrival of spring.

Teacher's Note

Notice how Assam's Bihu festival is directly connected to farming cycles, not just celebrated once a year like many festivals you might know. The three celebrations - sowing, planting, and harvest - show how deeply dance is tied to the rhythm of agricultural life in that region. This is why understanding the context of a festival helps you appreciate its true meaning.

The year has three Bihu celebrations. First, when the farmer sows seeds, then when he plants rice and finally when the crops are ready in the fields.

Angela got out of the car and walked south, where a festive atmosphere was visible everywhere. There, under a large banyan tree, a stage had been built. That place was crowded with people. Angela had never seen so many people gathered together under a tree before. Sitting among the people in the open air, she felt as if she had accidentally stepped into a time machine! Or was she in a dream world? She was spellbound watching boys and girls dancing on the arrival of spring. Angela noticed that the boys had musical instruments and the girls were wearing beautiful costumes with deep red and brown designs. They all looked quite colourful and cheerful. With their moving bodies and the movement of their hands and feet, it was clear that they were lost in the joy of dance. She wished that she too could dance like this at home on the arrival of spring.

[Figure: Bihu dance performance, See in your textbook]

Teacher's Note

When reading descriptions of cultural celebrations, focus on what makes each one unique - in this case, the specific instruments, clothing colours (red and brown), and the connection to farming seasons. These details help you remember and distinguish Bihu from other Indian festivals you will learn about.

Key Points

• Bihu is an agriculture-based festival celebrated in Assam three times a year - when farmers sow seeds, when they plant rice, and when crops are ready for harvest.
• The festival celebrates the arrival of spring and involves boys playing musical instruments and girls wearing colourful red and brown costumes while dancing together.
• Dance is an important part of the cultural life and traditions of Assam, which is a state in the north-eastern region of India known for its wildlife, silk, and tea plantations.

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