Bharigaan

Bharigaan is a traditional art form found in certain parts of Goalpara District and Kamrup District of Assam. This item of folk culture is performed by the tribal community of Pati Rabhas. Details about the origin and development of Bharigaan remain fairly unknown.

The first part of the performance are the songs. The songs of Bharigaan have no relation with Indian classical music. The troupe of singers of Bharigaan tie white bands around their waists and wear blue shirts. This art form is mainly performed on religious functions and private occasions. The songs used in Bharigaan are mainly based on the Ramayana. The performance continues with the unique Khola bandana, intended to capture the attention of the audience, and can be regarded as the prelude to the Bharigaan. The most important part of the performance is the drama part. The actors and actresses of Bharigaan use masks which are decorated with different colors. The dialogue used in Bharigaan has some similarities with the language spoken in Goalpara and the neighboring areas of East Bengal.