Consider the following statements regarding Sattras: 1. Sattras are monastic institutions established by Sankardev and his disciples as centers of religious, social, and cultural reform. 2. Sattars became an important center of Shaivite tradition in the Assam region. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

The correct answer is Only 1. In News Indian Express: GI tag for Majuli masks of Assam: History, cultural significance of the centuries-old art form. Key Points Sattras: Sattras are monastic institutions established by Sankardev a nd his disciples as centers of religious, social, and cultural reform. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Today, they are also centers of traditional performing arts such as borgeet (songs), xattriya (dance), and bhaona (theatre), which are an integral part of the Sankardev tradition. Sattars were center of Vaishnavaites tradition in Assam . Hence, statement 2 is incorrect. Majuli has 22 sattras , and the patent application states that the mask-making tradition is by and large concentrated in four of them — Samaguri Sattra, Natun Samaguri Sattra, Bihimpur Sattra, and Alengi Narasimha Sattra. Adding to their growing national and international recognition, the traditional Majuli masks in Assam were given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Centre. The handmade masks are traditionally used to depict characters in bhaonas, or theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva. The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals, and birds — Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha, Hanuman, Varaha Surpanakha all feature among the masks. They can range in size from those covering just the face (mukh mukha), which take around five days to make, to those covering the whole head and body of the performer (cho mukha), which can take up to one-and-a-half months to make. According to the application made for the patent, the masks are made of bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton, wood, and other materials available in the riverine surroundings of their makers. Additional Information Majuli manuscript painting also got the GI label. A GI tag is conferred upon products originating from a specific geographical region, signifying unique characteristics and qualities. Essentially, it serves as a trademark in the international market. Majuli, the largest river island in the world and the seat of Assam’s neo-Vaishnavite tradition has been home to the art of mask-making since the 16th century.