Female Participation in Folk Music of Assam - A Study on Bihugeet in Guwahati (GMA), Assam

Female Participation in Folk Music of Assam- A study on Bihugeet in Guwahati (GMA), Assam Palme Borthakur and Prof. Bhaben Ch. Kalita Department of Earth Science, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya E-mail: palme. borthakur@gmail. com Phone: +91 9508558080 Songs, instruments and dance- the collaboration of these three ingredients makes the music of any region or society. Folk music is one of the integral facet of culture which also poses all the essentials of music. The instruments used in folk music are divided into four halves-taat (string instruments), aanodha (instruments covered with membrane), Ghana (solid or the musical instruments which struck against one another) and sushir (wind instruments) (Sharma, 1996). Out of these four, Ghana and sushir vadyas are being preferred to be played by female artists. Ghana vadyas include instruments like taal, junuka etc. and sushir vadyas include instruments that can be played by blowing air from the mouth like flute, gogona, hkhutuli etc. Women being the most essential part of the society are also involved in the process of shaping up the culture of a region. In the society of Assam since ancient times till date women plays a vital role in the folk music that is bihugeet. At times Assamese women in groups used to celebrate bihu in open spaces or within forest areas or under big trees where entry of men was totally prohibited and during this exclusive celebration the women used to play aforesaid instruments and sing bihu songs describing their life, youth and relation with the environment. As time entered into digital phase women participation has become more and more paving the way towards the international platform. In this study the women participation in shaping up the folk culture of Assam in ancient times which led to make Assamese women independent and self-sufficient in todays world is tried to be analysed. The methodology adopted is conversation with women of different genres related to folk music of Assam, interviews with experts in folk music in Assam and online survey to get opinion from a bunch of folk music listeners.