Sakhiya Naach: A Cultural Performance in Tharu community
Date
2010
Authors
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Publisher
Department of English
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.
Description
Keywords
Tharu community, Cultural performance