Traditional Music, Folk Songs & Musical Instruments of Assam
Music is at the heart of Assamese culture, and the state possesses both a classical devotional repertoire and a great variety of folk song and instrument traditions. Questions on Assamese music appear in the art and culture and general knowledge sections of ADRE, APSC, Assam Police, DHS, SSC and Railway examinations. Candidates are expected to know the Borgeet of the Sattras, the Zikir and Zari of Ajan Fakir, the folk songs of Bihu and the regional styles, and to identify the traditional instruments such as the Khol, the Dhol, the Pepa and the Gogona. This topic is closely linked to the Sattra tradition, to Bhaona and to the Bihu festival, so studying it together with those pages gives a complete and coherent picture.
The Musical Heritage of Assam
The music of Assam is a rich blend of the sacred and the popular, the classical and the folk. On one side there is the devotional music of the Sattras, with its ragas and its elaborate compositions, and on the other there are the earthy songs of the fields, the rivers and the festivals. Assamese music has absorbed influences from the Vaishnava movement, from the indigenous tribal cultures and from the wider Indian classical tradition, and yet it retains a character of its own. The Kirtan Ghosha and the Borgeet form the classical core, while the Bihu songs and the regional folk songs form the popular base. Instruments made of bamboo, clay, horn, wood, metal and leather are used in different combinations, and the same instrument may serve both religious and festive purposes. Understanding this blend of the sacred and the folk is the key to the topic.
Borgeet and the Sattra Music
Borgeet, literally a noble or excellent song, is the devotional song form composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and his chief disciple Madhavdeva. The Borgeets are set to ragas and talas borrowed from the Indian classical tradition but adapted to the Assamese devotional context, and their lyrics are in Brajavali and Assamese. It is believed that the first Borgeet was composed by Sankardeva at Badrikashram, and the tradition was continued and enriched by Madhavdeva. Borgeets are sung in the Sattras and Namghars, during Bhaona and on ritual occasions, and they are accompanied by the Khol and the Taal. The preservation of Borgeet in the Sattras is one of the great achievements of Assamese culture, and questions often ask about the composers of Borgeet and the place of its first composition.
Zikir and Zari of Ajan Fakir
The Zikir and Zari are devotional song forms of the Muslim community of Assam, and they were introduced by the Sufi saint Ajan Fakir, also known as Shah Milan, in the seventeenth century. Ajan Fakir is said to have come from Baghdad and settled at Soraguri Sapori near Sivasagar, where his shrine is located. The Zikir are devotional songs in praise of God and the Prophet, while the Zari are elegiac songs commemorating the martyrdom of Hussain at Karbala. These songs use Assamese language and Assamese melodies and instruments, and they are a beautiful example of the synthesis of Islamic devotion and Assamese culture. The contribution of Ajan Fakir is an important topic in questions on the composite culture of Assam, and his name and the terms Zikir and Zari should be memorised together.
Bihu Songs and Folk Singing Traditions
The Bihu songs are the most popular folk songs of Assam and are sung especially during the Rongali or Bohag Bihu. They deal with love, the beauty of nature, the arrival of spring and the joy of youth, and they are sung to the beat of the Dhol and the sound of the Pepa and the Gogona. The Bihu song and the Bihu dance are inseparable, and the Husori parties sing their own versions as they move from house to house. Other important folk song traditions include the Ojapali songs, in which the Oja narrates epic and mythological stories with the Dainya and the Pali, and the Dehbicharar geet, the Baramahi geet or songs of the twelve months, and the Nisukoni geet or lullabies. Together these form a rich folk repertoire that varies from region to region.
Regional Folk Songs: Goalparia, Kamrupi and Others
Assam has several regional folk song styles that are prized for their melody and their local colour. The Goalparia lokgeet of the Goalpara region, which blends Assamese and Bengali elements, is perhaps the most famous and has been popularised by modern singers. The Kamrupi lokgeet of the Kamrup region has its own lilting style, and the songs of the Barak valley, the songs of the tea garden communities and the songs of the tribal communities such as the Bodos, the Mishings, the Karbis and the Rabhas add further variety. The Bhatiali-like river songs and the boat songs also belong to this tradition. This regional diversity means that a question may ask about the folk songs of a particular region, and candidates should be able to associate Goalparia with Goalpara and the Bihu song with the Bihu festival.
Percussion Instruments: Khol, Dhol and Kham
The percussion instruments of Assam are central to both devotional and folk music. The Khol is a barrel-shaped drum associated with Srimanta Sankardeva and used in Sattriya dance, Bhaona and Sattra music, and it is one of the defining instruments of Assamese devotional music. The Dhol is the larger drum used in Bihu and in many folk performances, and it gives the Bihu dance its energetic rhythm. The Kham is the drum of the Bodo community, and the Madol is used in some folk traditions. The Nagara and the Dhak also appear in particular contexts. The Taal and the Bhortal are cymbals used in devotional music, with the Bhortal being the large cymbal of the Bhortal Nritya of Barpeta. Learning which drum belongs to which tradition is a very common examination requirement.
Wind and String Instruments
Assam uses a variety of wind and string instruments. The Pepa is a wind instrument made from the horn of a buffalo, and it is blown during Bihu to produce a characteristic sound. The Gogona is a small jaw harp made of bamboo or horn, played by both men and women during Bihu. The Xutuli is a whistle made of clay or bamboo, and the Been and Bansi are flute-like instruments used in folk and devotional music. Among the string instruments, the Sarinda is a bowed folk instrument used by the Ojapali and other performers, the Dotara is a two-stringed plucked instrument, and the Tokari is the instrument that gives its name to the Tokari geet. The Sifung is the long bamboo flute of the Bodos, and the Dhol, Kham and other drums complete the ensemble. These instruments are often asked as matching questions.
Classification and Characteristics of the Instruments
The musical instruments of Assam can be classified in the traditional Indian manner into four groups. The Tata or string instruments include the Sarinda and the Dotara; the Sushira or wind instruments include the Pepa, the Bansi, the Been, the Xutuli and the Sifung; the Avanaddha or percussion instruments include the Khol, the Dhol, the Kham and the Madol; and the Ghana or solid instruments include the Taal, the Bhortal and the Gogona. Many of these instruments are made from locally available materials such as bamboo, cane, clay, animal horn and leather, which gives Assamese music a distinctively natural and eco-friendly character. The combination of instruments varies with the occasion: the Khol and Taal dominate devotional music, while the Dhol, Pepa and Gogona dominate the Bihu. Understanding this classification helps in answering questions on the types of instruments.
Modern Contribution: Bhupen Hazarika
Among modern figures, Bhupen Hazarika is the most celebrated name in Assamese music and is often called the Bard of Assam or the Bard of the Brahmaputra. Born in Sadiya in 1926, he was a singer, composer, poet and film-maker whose songs such as Manuhe Manuhor Babe became the voice of Assam and of humanity itself. He blended folk melodies with modern arrangements and carried Assamese music to national and international audiences. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1992, the Padma Bhushan, and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019. His legacy is a bridge between the traditional music of the villages and the music of modern India, and questions on Assamese culture often include his name and his awards.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Borgeet is the devotional song form composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva.
- Borgeet is sung in the Sattras and Namghars and is written in Brajavali and Assamese.
- The Khol is a barrel-shaped drum associated with Sankardeva.
- Zikir and Zari were introduced by the Sufi saint Ajan Fakir or Shah Milan.
- The shrine of Ajan Fakir is at Soraguri Sapori near Sivasagar.
- Bihu songs are the most popular folk songs of Assam and belong to Rongali Bihu.
- Ojapali songs are narrative songs performed by the Oja, the Dainya and the Pali.
- Goalparia lokgeet belongs to the Goalpara region.
- The Pepa is a wind instrument made from buffalo horn.
- The Gogona is a jaw harp made of bamboo or horn.
- The Xutuli is a whistle made of clay or bamboo.
- The Sarinda and the Dotara are string instruments of Assam.
- The Sifung is the long bamboo flute of the Bodos.
- The Kham is the drum of the Bodo community.
- The Bhortal is a large cymbal used in the Bhortal Nritya of Barpeta.
- Bhupen Hazarika is called the Bard of Assam and received the Bharat Ratna in 2019.
Quick Revision Points
- Fix the composers: Sankardeva and Madhavdeva for Borgeet, Ajan Fakir for Zikir and Zari.
- Link the instruments to their occasion: Khol and Taal with devotion, Dhol and Pepa with Bihu.
- Learn the instrument communities: Kham and Sifung with the Bodos.
- Remember the regional songs by region, especially Goalparia with Goalpara.
- Classify the instruments into Tata, Sushira, Avanaddha and Ghana.
- Note the honours of Bhupen Hazarika, especially the Bharat Ratna of 2019.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Prepare a table of song form, composer or community, language and occasion.
- List the instruments with the material they are made from and their use.
- Write short notes on Borgeet and on the contribution of Ajan Fakir.
- Learn the folk song styles region by region.
- Classify the instruments into the four traditional groups.
- Revise the modern contribution and awards of Bhupen Hazarika.
Common Exam Traps
- Attributing Borgeet to a composer other than Sankardeva and Madhavdeva.
- Confusing the Khol with the Dhol, and the Kham with the Madol.
- Mixing up Zikir and Zari, or attributing them to a person other than Ajan Fakir.
- Thinking that the Pepa is a string instrument; it is made from buffalo horn.
- Confusing the Sarinda with the Dotara, or with the Sifung of the Bodos.
- Forgetting that the Bhortal is a large cymbal and not a drum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Borgeet and who composed it?
Borgeet, literally a noble song, is the devotional song form of Assam composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and his chief disciple Madhavdeva. The songs are set to ragas and talas and are written in Brajavali and Assamese. They are sung in the Sattras and Namghars and are accompanied by the Khol and the Taal.
Who introduced Zikir and Zari and what are they?
Zikir and Zari were introduced by the Sufi saint Ajan Fakir, also known as Shah Milan, in the seventeenth century. The Zikir are devotional songs in praise of God and the Prophet, while the Zari are elegiac songs commemorating the martyrdom of Hussain at Karbala. Ajan Fakir settled at Soraguri Sapori near Sivasagar.
Which are the main traditional instruments of Assam?
The main traditional instruments include the Khol, a barrel drum associated with Sankardeva; the Dhol used in Bihu; the Pepa made from buffalo horn; the Gogona, a jaw harp; the Xutuli, a whistle; the Sarinda and the Dotara, which are string instruments; the Sifung, the Bodo flute; and the Kham, the Bodo drum.
What are the folk song styles of Assam?
The folk song styles of Assam include the Bihu songs, the Ojapali songs, the Goalparia lokgeet of the Goalpara region, the Kamrupi lokgeet of Kamrup, the Baramahi or songs of the twelve months, the Nisukoni geet or lullabies, and the songs of the tribal and tea garden communities. The Bihu songs are the most popular.
Who is Bhupen Hazarika and what honours did he receive?
Bhupen Hazarika was a celebrated Assamese singer, composer, poet and film-maker, often called the Bard of Assam. His songs such as Manuhe Manuhor Babe became the voice of Assam. He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1992, the Padma Bhushan, and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019.