Expressnews
Chennai, November 2025:
The Assam Workers and Cultural Society, Chennai successfully hosted Bhaona 2025 on Sunday, November 9, marking the first-ever staging of Bhaona outside Assam in Tamil Nadu. The landmark event brought Srimanta Sankardev’s centuries-old spiritual theatre tradition to Chennai for the first time, drawing an enthusiastic audience from the Assamese community as well as local cultural enthusiasts.
The programme was held at the Youth Hostel, Indira Nagar, Adyar, beginning with Naam Prasanga from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by the full Bhaona performance from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The featured play, “Shaliban Upakhyan”, originally composed by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, was staged with traditional Gayan-Bayan, elaborate costumes, and devotional storytelling.
“This Bhaona in Chennai is not just a cultural performance; it is a heartfelt tribute to our Guru Srimanta Sankardev,” said a spokesperson for the Assam Workers and Cultural Society. “We are proud that we could share Assam’s living heritage and its message of peace and unity with audiences in Tamil Nadu.”
Bhaona, a five-century-old Assamese theatrical tradition combining music, dance, narrative, and devotion, is a central part of the state’s Vaishnavite cultural identity. Its staging in Chennai marks a significant moment for the Assamese diaspora, who hope to strengthen cultural bonds and introduce local audiences to one of Assam’s most treasured art forms.
