prelude  The Shavite temples of Assam, including those at Biswanathghat, Dergaon and Dubi, had attached to them the institution of Devadasinritya (temple dance). It is mentioned in an old chronicle that Satrajit Baruwa of Dhaka, in subordinate command of a Mughal force of Aurangzeb, took away by force three natis or temple dancers from the Biswanathghat Shiva shrine. A Vishnuite temple, the Hayagrivamadhava Mandir of Hajo, also had its natis, probably in conformity with the similar custom in the Puri Jagannatha temple. The natis used to remain unmarried all through their lives. They, however, lived with their parents and attended the temple services at appointed hours. Nidhi Levi Farewell, a Christian writer of the mid 19th century, cast his caustic gaze on the temple women, their songs and dances in a few rough hewn verses published in Orunodoi, the Baptist journal. From his description, the natis’ songs seem to have had mostly erotic sentiments. The dance costumes, as it has been gathered, consisted of a loose lahanga (skirt), a riha (wrapper) over the bosom and a long sleeved blouse. Her coiffured hair was decked with flowers, and was covered with a transparent veil coming down to the shoulders. Gold ornaments were rather profusely put on. Music was provided by khol (drum) and small cymbals. The dance was swift and vigorous, being punctuated by somersaults. The music, in its highest tempo, was known as khatar bajana, the somersaults being called khat. Such movements are not absolutely uncommon also in the Satra school. The dance and the accompanying music is thus divided into two parts-minor and major amjani. The text of the songs is reported to be still available in manuscripts. But, burdened with the contempt of the age and unsupported by any royal munificence, the natis had to give up their holy duties. (More about the natis in the coming week). E-mail your questions with answers at: only4_pol@yahoo.co.uk or post at: THE COLOSSEUM, Mosaic, Friday Supplement, The Assam Tribune, Guwahati-781003 or SMS at: 9864102417. Send your name in each SMS.

side screen  1) Picture Clue: Pictured here on the right with his father, this renowned personality graduated from Harvard University in 1904 and then attended Columbia University Law School. He is the author of a few books and was later on conferred the Nobel Prize. Identify.

harmonisers  From Pranjal Kishore Sharmah, Moscow – 2) What are Buffalo Wings, Osama-bin-Laden, Veerappan and Shilpa Shetty? 3) What is the art of wall painting on wet plaster called? 4) How do we better know the actor and professional wrestler Dwayne Douglas Johnson? 5) Which liquid used in world cuisine gets its name from the old French for ‘sour wine’?

unities  From Dipankar Koushik, Guwahati – 6) Who played the terrorist leader Liaqat in Roja, the 1991 Mani Ratnam film that went on to become the most successful Indian dubbed film? 7) Who could not see the film Nagina (1951), though she played the lead role in the film? 8) Who won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his memorable performance as Sunny Deol’s dying father in Ghatak (1996)?

do-re-me  9) This term is a colloquialism referring to Australia, and occasionally New Zealand, because it lies totally within the southern hemisphere. Name the term. (Anupam Borah) 10) What term refers to a phrase, line, or group of lines repeated at intervals throughout a poem, generally at the end of the stanza? (Kamaljyoti Borah, Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University) 11) The title of which music album was inspired by a series of paintings by Hiroshima survivors? (Himjyoti Talukdar, Ashram, New Delhi) 12) What is common to Underwood, Olympia, Royal, Smith and Carona? (Prosenjit ‘Piklu’ Dutta, Aryapatti, Tezpur) 13) What is the screen name of Vidya Balan in the film Laage Raho Munna Bhai? (Kamal Medhi, Mathgharia, Guwahati) 14) The Americans called him “the cyclonic Hindu monk”. Who was he? (Rupanjali Gogoi, Demow, Sivasagar)

crescendo  15) Bhagirath, Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Hindon, Jamuna, Sarayu and Alakananda – what are these, apart from being names of rivers? (Alakananda Medhi, Guwahati)

Answers  1) Franklin Roosevelt 2) These are all brands of “chocolate bombs” made by Standard Fire Works! 3) Fresco 4) “The Rock” 5) Vinegar 6) Pankaj Kapur 7) The film was certified as ‘adults only’ and Nutan was not 18 years old yet 8) Amrish Puri 9) Down Under 10) Refrain 11) U2’s Unforgettable Fire 12) All typewriters 13) Jahnabi 14) Swami Vivekananda 15) These are names of Gramin Banks in North India