Doc2 Assam Report
Doc2 Assam Report
Doc2 Assam Report
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.
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.
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:
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.
» BIHU
» SATRIYA NRITYA
» BAGURUMBA
» DEODHANI
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Nonverbal Communication
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.
Individualism:-
People of Assam are more humble and community driven. They like being part and
parcel of their family and society at large.