Pathsala

Pathsala Town has a population of 11,242 of which 5,824 (51.8%) are males while 5,418 (48.19%) are females. Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 1040 which is 9.25% of the total population.[4]

There are 930 females per 1000 male in Pathsala (TC). Overall sex ratio in the city has increased by 89 females per 1000 male during the years from 2001 to 2011. Child sex ratio here has decreased by 33 girls per 1000 boys during the same time.[4]

Total 9467 people in the city are literate, among them 5029 are male and 4438 are female. Literacy rate (children under 6 are excluded) of Pathsala is 93%. 95% of male and 90% of female population are literate here. Overall literacy rate in the city has increased by 4%. Male literacy has gone up by 2% and female literacy rate has gone up by 6%.[4]

Pathsala Town Committee administers over 2,759 houses, to which it supplies basic amenities, like water and sewerage. It is also authorized to build roads within the Town Committee limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.[3]

Pathsala is a focal point of mobile theatre, popularly known as Bhramyaman Theatre, in Assam.[2] These groups, similar to the Jatra groups of Bengal, have carved a special niche as mass entertainers in Northeast India, arranging shows throughout Assam and some of its neighbouring states. Sessions usually start from June/July every year, putting up plays from the month August/September and concluding the session in March/April. Every group has their own set of artists and technicians, along with stages, pandals, and other electric and sound equipment, which they carry to the remotest parts of the region. At present, Pathsala boasts three prominent Bhramyaman groups, namely The Kohinoor Theatre, The Aabahan Theatre and The Rajmukut Theatre.Nataraj Theatre, the first mobile theatre of Assam, originated in pathsala[5][6]

The famous Deodhani Dance, entirely different from its South Indian form, has Pathsala as its home. Assam's Devadasi dance is a 1,000-year-old tradition, prevalent since the 7th century when the Devadasi system was in place. Girls were offered to Saiva, Sakta and Vaishnava temples to dance as part of a daily ritual. Ancient texts like the Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra[7] carry references to this ritualistic dance practice. It is said that Bishnu Prasad Rabha, on seeing it performed, worked for the promotion and spread of this dance form. Dilip Kakati is the person who currently trains a group of girls, in an attempt to save this art.[8]