Guwahati-born, London-based dancer Anannya Mahanta brought the classical grace of Sattriya and the vibrant energy of Bihu to Birmingham when she performed a solo at the Consulate General of India’s celebrations for India’s 80th Independence Day. Invited to showcase Assam’s cultural heritage, Mahanta performed before a gathering that included diplomatic guests, members of the Indian diaspora, students and friends of India from across the Midlands and the North of England.
Mahanta opened with Sattriya, Assam’s classical dance tradition, presenting movements organized around different talas (rhythmic cycles) and patterns. She included a short abhinaya segment — the expressive storytelling portion of Indian classical dance — to convey the emotional depth and narrative quality of the form.
The programme shifted to the exuberance of Bihu, Assam’s most celebrated folk tradition. Drawing on familiar cultural elements such as the jaapi and toka, Mahanta combined energetic footwork and lively gestures with the festive music and imagery associated with the Bihu repertoire, creating a vivid contrast with the earlier classical piece.
The transition from the meditative, refined vocabulary of Sattriya to the buoyant vitality of Bihu offered attendees a compact tour of Assam’s performing-arts diversity. The performance was met with enthusiastic applause, contributing to the celebratory atmosphere of the Independence Day event.
Mahanta’s appearance also underscored her professional credentials: she is a member of the International Dance Council (UNESCO, Paris), a certified artist under India’s Ministry of Culture, a double-diploma holder in Sattriya, a Prasar Bharati graded artist and an empanelled performer with SPIC MACAY. The Consulate’s programme began with the singing of Vande Mataram and the hoisting of the national flag by Consul General Dr Venkatachalam Murugan.
Dignitaries who extended greetings included Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands Derrick Anderson CBE, Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Zaker Choudhry MBE, Mayor of Royal Sutton Coldfield Cllr Dr Nitish Raut, High Sheriff of the West Midlands Carmen Watson, High Sheriff of Staffordshire Pritpal Singh Nagi MBE DL, and the Consul General of Romania Mihaela Savu. With more than 150 participants from across the country, the event highlighted India’s cultural diversity and the enduring ties between India and its diaspora in the United Kingdom. For Mahanta, the performance was a personal milestone — bringing the traditions of her native Guwahati to an international audience and placing Assam’s Sattriya and Bihu at the heart of India’s Independence Day celebrations in Birmingham.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assams-sattriya-bihu-take-centre-stage-at-indias-independence-day-celebrations-in-birmingham-1438483-2026-08-16?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-08-16 09:35:00
