The Devadasi Dance Tradition Of Dubi Parihareshwar Devalaya, Assam: History, Performance, And Preservation

Assam, a culturally pluralistic state in Northeast India, has sustained social harmony through diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious traditions. The region’s religious life is shaped primarily by Shaivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism, expressed through ancient Shaktipeeths and Shiva temples that function as centers of worship, art, and community. While the Neo-Vaishnavite movement of the 14th–15th centuries led by Srimanta Sankaradeva reoriented devotional practice, Shaivism and Devi worship retained prominence. A distinctive feature of Assam’s temple culture is the integration of performing arts into ritual worship. Among these, the Devadasi dance tradition, locally called ‘Nati-nach’, represents a foundational form of India’s Margiya classical dance and was historically performed in major Shiva temples including Parihareshwar Devalaya in Dubi. This tradition declined due to loss of royal patronage, colonial intervention, and social reform. Today it survives only in fragments, preserved through the memory of the last devadasis Kaishyala Bala and Raiebala and documented by cultural figures like Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Ratnakanta Talukdar. This paper investigates the historical origins of Dubi Parihareshwar Devalaya, documents the performance structure, costumes, ornaments, and musical instruments of the Dubi Devadasi tradition, and examines contemporary preservation efforts. It argues that institutional support, academic documentation, and community engagement are essential for safeguarding this endangered intangible heritage.