Sakhiya Naach: A Cultural Performance in Tharu community

Abstract

This thesis endeavors to depict the dominant cultural dance; Sakhiya Naach of Tharu community performed specially around the great festival Dashya (Dashain) but extends till Dewari (Tihar)by western Tharus of Dang, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali, Bankey and Kanchnpur.The dance is initiated on the Agana of Badghar’s House and performed by young boys and young girls especially who are unmarried. Sakhiya Naach reflects the socio-cultural identity, belief, life style, artistic skill, harmonious relation, aesthetic aspects and communal stance of Tharu people. The performance has no hierarchy and domination in between and among the performers i.e. male and female, poor and rich. Thus, performance of Sakhiya Naach strongly manifests the caste and gender equality and practice of egalitarianethos. Participants enjoy their freedom, liberation and express their feelings, emotion through this performance.Sakhiya Naach often carries the songs of lord Krishna’s youth life and his glorious activities but in contemporary time performers often sing mass awakening songs to bring change in society according to demand of time and context and entertain the villagers and spectators. It is performed in the perspective of cultural, ritual and entertaining aspects portraying the gender equality and giving the true identity of Tharu community.