Assam’s traditional Pala Bhaona performance draws audience during Durga Puja in Kaliabor

Assam’s traditional performing art of Pala Bhaona was staged at the Hatbor Sarbajanin Durga Puja venue in Kaliabor on Navami night, with artists presenting the Harischandra Pala as part of Durga Puja celebrations.

The performance was organised by the Hatbor Sarbajanin Puja Committee and presented by artists of the Saubhagya Madhav Cultural Group. It combined religious narratives, devotional songs, traditional musical instruments and theatrical performances to showcase Assam’s folk traditions.

Pala Bhaona is a traditional form of performance that draws on mythological and religious narratives to communicate values such as truth, justice, devotion and humanity. It also serves as a medium for religious awareness, moral education and the transmission of social values.

The performance at Hatbor highlighted the continued practice of traditional art forms in Assam amid changing cultural and social landscapes. Such performances remain part of community celebrations across the state, particularly in rural areas, where they help sustain local artistic traditions.

By combining storytelling, music and acting, Pala Bhaona provides a platform for local artists to carry forward Assam’s cultural heritage and introduce traditional narratives to younger generations.

The staging of the Harischandra Pala during the Durga Puja festivities brought a traditional cultural element to the celebrations, underlining the role of community events in preserving the state’s folk performing arts.