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NORTH
EASTER
N
STATES
ASSAM
SUBMITTED BY:
CHARU KHANNA
DEEPIKA
DEEPALI MAHESHWARI
INTRODUCTION

The north eastern region of India is home for rich cultures, nature-friendly
traditional technologies and everlasting social institutions. These have been shaped and
nurtured by many tribal and non-tribal social formations. Among the indigenous
communities, there are more than 120 Scheduled Tribes, most of whom are traditional
inhabitants of the hill regions, which make up over 70 per cent of the total area. 
Despite impressive social and economic changes, the indigenous communities,
tribal and others, still retain a great deal of the pure elements of their age-old life-
styles. Wisdom and knowledge embedded in their socio-cultural life is astonishing.

ASSAM - THE MEETING GROUND OF DIVERSE CULTURE

Land of Mystery and Magic', 'Land of Red River and Blue Hills', 'A Travelers’ Paradise' -
whatever you may call it, Assam is definitely a nature lover's ultimate destination .

Assam is a mixing pot where culture, heritage, tradition, lifestyle, faith and belief
of her Aryan & Non-Aryan, numerous tribes & sub-tribes, Mongoloids & Australoids,
drawn from various hives at different points of time have gone into form the Assamese
culture - a fascinating and exotic recipe of delightful flavor.


NAME OF ASSAM

The name Assam is of recent origin. It came into use after the conquest of Assam by
the Ahoms. Its derivation from a Sanskrit word 'ASOMA', is an entryway to the North
East India.

LANGUAGE

Since Assam is inhabited by people of diverse regions, many languages are spoken
and understood here.

 Assamese or Akhomiya is the main language of the state.


 English is used for administrative purposes though people in cities can speak
and understand this language.
 Bengali is also used for communication by some Hindus and Muslims.
 The different tribes have their own languages that are commonly used in their
own communities.
Assamese consonants and their phonetic representation:-

ka kha ga gha Unga


ca cca ja jha Niya
ta tha da dha Na
ta tha da dha Na
pa pha ba bha Ma
ja ra la wa
xa xa xa ha
khya ya Ra Ra
THE PEOPLE OF ASSAM

The people of Assam are in fact the result of fusion of people from different racial stocks who
migrated to Assam down the ages. The Assamese population can be divided into two broad
groups:

 The non-tribal people who constitute the majority


 The tribal.

1.The Australoids were the first to come to the land;


2.The Mongoloids came here in a series of migrations from the north, north-east and south-east;
3.The Caucasoids came from the west by the valley formed by the Ganges and the
Brahmaputra.

Today, the people of the State can be broadly identified and classified as the Non-Tribals or
Plains People. The people of the plains generally live in the plains and the Tribals mainly live in
the hills. Though, Assam has a valuable tribal population in the plains too.
Assam has got a large population of tribals; some of the tribal groups are :-

 Boro-Kacharis
 Deori
 Misings
 Dimassas
 Karbis
 Lalungs

About 63% of the state’s working force is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. More
than 79% of the total cropped area is utilized for food crops production.

The people of Assam are known to be very friendly, charming and open-hearted. The state’s
population is the result of different ethno-cultural groups that migrated to the land under various
politico-economic systems in earlier times.
FAIRS & FESTIVALS OF ASSAM

The superb blend of heritage extracted from numerous races has made Assam the home to the
most colorful festivals at once blazing, compelling and mesmerizing. Most of the festivals
celebrated in Assam have their root in the varied faith and belief of its people.

Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Swaraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kalipuja, Shivaratri are
some of the major festivals celebrated by the Hindus of Assam. Those of Islamic faith celebrate
Idd and Muharram. Similarly, Christians celebrate Christmas.

Besides the religious and national festivals observed throughout the Country, Assam has a
large number of colourful festivals of its own replete with fun, music and dances. Assam’s fairs
and festivals are as varied as its population which comes from different racial origins, both tribal
and non-tribal.

BIHU FESTIVAL, the agricultural festival of Assam is celebrated by all Assamese, irrespective
of caste, creed or religion. Bihu, Assam's very own festival come off at various stages of
cultivation of paddy, the principal crop of Assam. There are three Bihus that come off at various
stages of cultivation of paddy, the principal crop of Assam. They are Bahag (Baisakh) Bihu, Kati
(Kartika) Bihu and Magh (Magha) Bihu.

TEA FESTIVAL: In the month of November Assam Tourism organizes this festival combining
visits to tea gardens, Golf cruises, River cruises.

AMBUBASI MELA: Organized in the premises of Kamakhaya Devi temple in Guwahati, this
festival is celebrated in monsoon. This festival has affiliation to the tantrik rituals and remains
closed for three days with a legend which states that it is the menstrual time of goddess
Kamakhaya.

JONBEEL MELA: A fair where barter system still persists, this fair is most magnificent and
celebrated in winters. The tribal communities like Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi and Jaintia observe this fair
happily.

BAISHAGU: This festival is celebrated in the month of April. Commencing with worshiping the
cows, this festival is a myriad of varied hues.
RAJINI GABRA AND HARINI GABRA: This festival, significantly a religious practice to start a
new civilization, starts with the village head.

DOSA THOI ! LONG NAI : A very important religious dance to worship Lord Shiva.

ALI-AI- LIGANG: This is colorful spring festival of Mising tribe organized in the month of
February- March.

RONGKER AND CHOMANGKAN: A spring festival to seek blessings from God and
Goddesses for the welfare of the village. Chomangkan is an elaborate death ceremony.

The tribals of Assam have their own colorful festivals like:

 The Kherai Puja of the Bodos.


 The Baikhu and Pharkantis of the Rabhas.
 Ali-ai-ligang and Prag by the Missing tribe.
 The Sagra-misawa wansawa and laghun by the Tiwas.
 The Ahomes of Tai origin celebrate Me-Dem-Mehfi.
 The Ojapali dances of Non-Vaishnavite origin are usually associated with Manasa.
 The Serpent Goddess.
 Bathow festival is celebrated by the kacharis through sacrifice of goats and chickens.
 The Boros of the plains in general have an intricate pattern of indigenous dances
associated with the primitive rituals like the Kherai Puja.
 The Dimasas celebrate Rangi Gobr and Harni gobra at the start of the cropping cycle.
 The Deoris observe Bohagiya visu- the Spring time festival.
 Ambubasi Mela is held during monsoon at the famous Kamakhya Temple.
 Jonbeel Mela is held every year during winter at Jonbeel. The festival is celebrated by
the tribes like Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi, Jaintia etc.

DANCE AND MUSIC OF ASSAM


Each occasion is observed with enthusiastic fervor in Assam. Celebrated with much
vigor each form of dance and music is Assam is extraordinary. Some of the famous
dances of Assam are:-

» BIHU

Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. Bihu dances


are performed by young boys and girls during the Bihu
festivities which represent youthful passion, reproductive
urge and joy. The dances are accompanied by musical
instruments like dhol(dholak), penpa, gagana, banhi(flute)
etc.

» SATRIYA NRITYA

Satriya Nritya is the classic dance form of Assam which


represents the Satriya culture, the basis of the religious and
cultural fabric of Assam.

» BARPETA'S BHORTAL NRITYA

Bhortal Nritya of Barpeta district is an extension of Sankari culture.

» TEA FOLK'S JHUMUR DANCE


The tea tribes have a synthesized form of dance called
"Jhumur Nach", performed by girls and boys together, or,
sometimes by the girls alone, with precision of footwork
while clasping tightly each other's waist.

» BAGURUMBA

Bagurumba is the most attractive dance of the Bodo


community. Girls dressed in colourful attires perform this
dance in tune of Bodo traditional musical instruments.

» DEODHANI

The Deodhani dance is associated with the worship of the


snake goddess Manasa. A Deodhani girl, in a inspired
state, goes on dancing to the accompaniment of Kham
(drum) and Ciphung (flute) propitiating many a deity
beginning with Shiva and ending with Lakshmi.

Then there are other dances as Bagurumba dance of Bodos, Mishing's Ali Ai Ligang.
There are many other folk dance forms in Assam like Husari and Bihunas, Dhuliya and
Bhawariya, Deodhani, Zikirs, Mohauhau or Mahkheda and Apsara-Sabah.
ART & CRAFT OF ASSAM

From time immemorial, the people of Assam have traditionally been craftsmen. The
magic of art of Assamese craftsmen is a common passion inspiring the deep senses
with its’ age old simplicity and sophistication.

 Gamosa - meaning 'something to wipe the body’ is a white rectangular piece of


cloth with red border which is of great significance for the people of Assam and is
used for various occasions with high respect.

 Cane and Bamboo - have remained inseparable parts of life in Assam. The
Jappi, the traditional sunshade continues to be the most prestigious of bamboo
items of the state.

 Metal Crafts - Bell-metal and brass have been the most commonly used metals
for the Assamese artisan. The Xorai and bota have in use for centuries, to offer
betel-nut and paan to welcome distinguished guests. Gold, silver and copper too
form a part of traditional metal craft in Assam.

 Handlooms - Assam is the home for several types of silks, the most prominent
and prestigious being muga, the golden silk exclusive only to this state. The
women of Assam weave fairy tales in their looms. One of the world's finest
artistic traditions finds expression in their exquisitely woven 'Eri', 'Muga' and 'Pat'
fabrics.

 Toys - There are four categories: clay toys, pith, wooden and bamboo toys, and
cloth-mud toys.
 Woodcraft - The various articles in a satra and naam-ghar(place of worship) are
stiff cut on wood, depicting the guru asana (pedestal of the lords), apart from
various kinds of birds and animals figuring in mythology. Modern-day Khanikar
produce articles of commercial values, including figures of one-horned rhino and
replicas of the world-famous Kamakhya temple - two items heading the list of
demands of a visitor from outside.

 Masks - Traditional masks have been widely used in folk theatres and bhaonas,
made with the materials ranging from terracotta to pith to metal, bamboo and
wood. Even in tribals too, varied colourful masks are used. The modern-day
drawing rooms use masks as decorative items and wall-hangings.

 Jewellery - Assamese traditional jewellery include the doog-doogi, loka-paro,


bana, gaam-kharu, gal-pata, jon-biri, dhol-biri and keru. Jorhat of Assam is
popular in manufacturing exquisite Assamese jewelry.

 Pottery - The Kumars and Hiras are two traditional potter communities of Assam.
While the Kumars use the wheel to produce their pots, the Hiras are probably the
only potters in the world who do not use the wheel at all. The most commonly-
used pottery products include earthern pots and pitchers, plates, incense-stick
holders, and earthen lamps.

 Dance, music, woodwork, pottery, sitalpati or the art of mat making have
survived through centuries with fewer changes since it remained an integral part
of the locals.
FOOD OF ASSAM
Different from other adjoining states, the cuisine of Assam is an amalgamation of
authentic styles with a pinch of local variety and external influence.

A peculiar feature of Assam's culinary is the minimum use of oil and spice but extensive
use of herbs, fruits and vegetables. The preparations are not that lavish and use of
jaggery or sugar is main.

A classic Assam platter will have a starter Khar, a group of some dishes that are named
after the main ingredient and will end with tenga, a sour dish. The cuisine of Assam has
many vegetarian and non vegetarian delights for gourmets.

The staple food of Assam is rice cooked in many ways- boiled, roasted, pulverized or
just soaked. Curry of boiling vegetables accompanies rice. For dessert, or for those with
a sweet tooth, there is a wide range in Pithas (cakes) made from rice powder is
essential for many dishes here.

The Assamese eat a huge variety of rice-based breakfast cereals with milk, yoghurt or
thick creamakhoi (puffed rice), chira (chura), muri, komal chaul (a specially processed
rice which doesn’t require cooking but just an hour’s soak in cold water) and hurum to
name but a few.

Taking non vegetarian dishes, fish of many types like the rou, the illish, and the chital is
the main dish in Assam. Birds like duck and pigeon; partridge and chicken, mutton are
fondly relished and particularly favorite are the pork dishes. The exotic side dishes in
Assam are made of steamed or roasted vegetables. Eri polu (pupa of Eri silkworm and
fermented bamboo shoot) is very famous and savored dish in Assam.

THE EXCLUSIVE ASSAM TEA

The quality of Assam tea is excellent. Assam has a first flush and a second flush tea.
The first flush has a rich and refreshing aroma; the second flush produces the famous
"tippy teas." It is this feature of the teas of the second flush which makes them more
preferred. (Tippy refers to black tea with gold tips or what appears to be golden-
coloured leaf). The amount of tip varies, depending upon where in Assam the tea estate
from which the tea comes is located. Additionally, not all tea estates have the ability or
capacity to generate "tippy teas." The golden tip present in Assam tea, tends to lessen
the bitter characteristic of the tea and make it sweet and smooth.
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
This joint family system appears to be traditional among both the tribal and non-tribal
village communities of Assam; it is based on blood relationships.

In the case of inheritance, the Dayabhaga system was followed in older days, as at


present. As long as the father lives, the sons cannot claim any share in the property. So
the father is the centre of the family and he rules supreme.
There are a few tribal societies which follow the matriarchal system. The Khasi is one
among them. They look upon the mother as the centre of the clan. The mother's
property goes to her daughters. When there is no daughter, the property goes to the
youngest daughter of the mother's sister. The Garos also follow a similar system in the
Garo Hills. Among the Dimasa-Kacharis the prevalent custom is that the sons
inherit their father's properties and the girls inherit their mother’s properties. When there
are no children of their own their relatives inherit the properties. Though Assamese
women are given an honored position, no other community in Assam follows the
matrilineal inheritance system. The common paternal system governs general
Assamese society.

Manu's Prajapati mode is the usual rule for marriages in Assam. The proposal for the
girl’s hand comes from the boy’s family and then follows the other formalities. In Assam,
Kinship is treated with great importance. Sons and daughters of uncles and aunts are all
brothers and sisters, like those of one's own parents.

Marriage is generally outside of the kin-group and the local group. It is a joint family in
which the brides are all brought from outside and the girls are all given away.

Customs like levirate and sororate, by which a widow lives with the younger brother of
her husband and a man marries the younger sister of his wife, show that marriage is
very much a relationship between families rather than between individuals.

CROSS CULTURE ANALYSIS

Cross-cultural communication will be outlined and demonstrated by examples of ideas,


attitudes, and behaviors involving four variables:

 Time and Space

 Fate and Personal Responsibility


 Face and Face-Saving

 Nonverbal Communication

Time and Space


The people of Assam feels like the life has unlimited continuity. As per their thoughts the
birth and death are not absolute ends since the universe continues after the death also.
Some of them believe in the rebirth of the spirit in another form. If a Lalung baby cries
too much, they suppose that some dead member of the family must have been reborn.

Fate and Personal Responsibility


People in Assam are more dependent and family oriented. They live in joint family and
depend on others in taking the important decisions of their life.

Community Orientation
People of Assam are more humble and community driven. They stay and enjoy life in
the groups or with the community they belong to.

Nonverbal Communication
Non verbal cues are of great importance here, like respecting by touching the feet of the
elder people, listening to elders silently, etc.

Masculinity:-

As long as the father lives, the sons cannot claim any share in the property. So the
father is the centre of the family and he rules supreme.
There are a few tribal societies which follow the matriarchal system. The Khasi is one among
them. They look upon the mother as the centre of the clan. The mother's property goes to her
daughters.

Thus Assam gives importance to both men and women.

Long term orientation:-


Belief in life after death situation.

Individualism:-
People of Assam are more humble and community driven. They like being part and
parcel of their family and society at large.

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