Puppetry in satras (monasteries) of Majuli

Majuli is the biggest river island of the world.Majuli is famous for the Satras (monasteries).The Satras are a religious center as well as hub of music and performing art. Puppetry was once a very popular art form of satras of upper Assam. Votary of prominent sattras of Majuli revealed that the art of puppet or “Putala Bhaona” was practiced only in Auniati Satra and Natun Kamalabari Satra. However, due to lack of patronage and interest of people, puppetry got extinct from the satras of Majuli. Puppeteer of Natun Kamalabari Satra claim that puppeteers of that Sattra learnt this art from a troupe of lower Assam visiting the Satra before 80 years.

Auniati Sattra:

Auniati Satra was established in Majuli in 1653 A.D.The first Satradhikar of Auniati Satra was Sri Sri Niranjan Dev Goswami.The present Satradhikar of Auniati satra is Sri Sri Pitambar Dev Goswami.This famous Satra has twelve branches in various parts of Assam.Auniati Satra is the epicenter of Vaishnavism and Satriya culture in Assam. Puppetry was one of the important performing art forms of the Satra.The name of the puppet groupe of Auniati Satra was “Sri Govinda Putala Abhinay Samiti”.A first hand account collected from Auniati Satra of Majuli reveals that the puppet group of Auniati Satra was formed before hundred years.At that time Bhagavat Bhaskar Hemchandra Goswami was the satradhikar.The founder of the puppet group was Vaishnava monk Umakanta Oja.

Puppet making process

The craftsmen made the puppets with soft woods like Gamari (Gomelina arborea) Sapa (Shorea robusta) Odal (cordial myxa), Madar (Indian coral) etc. Some are made only with cloths by joining with thread. Generally, the heights of puppets are around 1½˶ to 2½. Different characters of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata becomes alive in the touch of skilled and expert artist. Not only human figures, demons, animals, birds are also made for the demand of the story of play. In case of human figures, the head portion and hands are fitted to the body with moveable joints. Minimum of six strings are attached to the puppets.

Natun Kamalabari Sattra:

Natun Kamalabari Sattra of Majuli was established in 1595 by Bodula Padma Ata, the chief disciple of Madhabdev. The present Sattradhikar of Natun Kamalabari Satra is Sri Sri Narayan Chandra Goswami. This Satra has rich heritage of traditional ceremonies, music, painting, dance etc. This Sattra is the storehouse of Sattriya art and culture. Putala bhaona was one of the most performed arts of the Natun Kamalabari Satra. The puppets of “Natun Kamalabari Satra” are made of Kuhila or Indian Pith. This kind of puppet is lighter then the puppet made from wood and so easy to manipulate.Puppet troupe of Natun Kamalabari Satra wanted to modernize their puppets for the sake of revival of this art form. Apart from traditional way, the craftsmaen of Natun Kamalabari Satra make puppet by one another process. This type of puppet can make in very short span of time. Easily available materials are used to make this kind of modern puppet.The materials required are-straw of paddy, gum and wet papers.

Making process

Firstly, the craftmen made a wisp of straw of paddy. With gum and wet paper, they cover that braided wisp and put it in an area with really good air circulation and. When it dries, different colours are applied on them and curving out of eyes, nose and lips are done. “Curving out of the eyes is done the last, for it is symbolized as bringing life to the figure”^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Informant:Manoranjan Roy,Khetri,Guwahati, 4/6/16