ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL STATE ASSAM

 

ASSAM

District numbers of Assam

Introduction

Assam covers an area of 30,285 sq mi (78,440 km2). The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and Bangladesh to the south; Nagaland and Manipur to the east; and West Bengal to the west via the Siliguri Corridor, a 22 kilometres strip of land which connects the state to the rest of India.

Location

Assam lies at the centre of the seven states of North East India. The state primarily comprises of two valleys the Brahmaputra and Barak named the dominant rivers.

Capital

Dispur is the capital of the state of Assam. It is a locality of Guwahati and it became the capital of Assam in 1973.

Languages

Assamese is the major language spoken by the people of Assamese. Bodo is another important language. In the Barak valley region, Bengali is spoken by the majority. Tribes like Dimasa, Mishing, Karbi, Rabha, Tiwa, etc. speak their own dialects.

Climate

With the tropical monsoon climate, Assam is temperate and experiences heavy rainfall and high humidity. Some peculiar features of the climate of Assam are its mountain chills, valley winds, sandstorms, fogs, cyclones etc.

Tea Leave

The Flora

The vegetation of Assam is primarily of tropical type covering areas of evergreen, semi-evergreen, grassland, deciduous forests, grasslands and riverside forests. Much of the state is covered with dense tropical forest of bamboo and at higher elevations, evergreens. Many valuable trees like Sal, Agar, Gomari, Bon Chom etc., found in these forests which help in economic development of the state.

The Fauna

Mostly the world famous One Horned Rhinos are found in Assam. Some other popular animals are found in Assam- Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Pigmy Hog, Wild Buffalo, Hoolock Gibbon, Hispid Hare, Gangetic Dolphin, Langur, Swamp Deer etc. Commonly found birds include the White winged wood duck, Bengal Florican, etc.

World famous One-Horned Rhino

Festivals

Assam is a place of festivals as because here many tribes and schedules live under one roof. Here we just mention only a few major celebration of Assam.

Bihu

The state festival of Assam is Bihu. It is of three types: Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, Magh Bihu or Vhogali Bihu and Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu.

Bihu dance

Bohag Bihu is celebrated in mid-April; the Magh Bihu is celebrated in mid-January and Kati Bihu is celebrated in mid-October. All the Assamese community celebrates it irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

Baishagu

Baishagu is the major festival of Bodo, the largest Scheduled tribe in Assam. They celebrate it with much pomp and gaiety in mid of April and at the same time the Assamese

Baishagu dance performance

celebrates Rongali Bihu. Bodos are the largest Scheduled tribe in Assam.

Rongker

It is celebrated among the Karbis, the primary inhabitants of the Karbi Anglong district. Rongker is the major springtime annual festival. The main reason for celebrating this festival is to make the people free from the diseases and natural calamities throughout the year.

Majuli Festival

The island of

Mukha Silpa, Majuli festival 

Majuli is the abode of Vaishnavite culture. Majuli festival is held during November and stages many cultural programs with the cultural troupes from the all over the country.

Elephant Festival

It is an annual

Elephant festival 

celebration of Kaziranga National Park, in Assam. It is intended to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of Asiatic elephant.

Tea festival

Tea festival is

Tea festival

a unique celebration of Assam tea. The main centre of the festival is Jorhat district. Jorhat is popularly known as the Tea Capital of the World.

Dehing Patkai Festival

It derives its name from the Patkai range and the Dehing River. This festival is celebrated in the month of January and it is held at Lekhapani in Tinsukia district.

Karam Puja

It is the most

Karam Puja 

important festival of tea tribe community of Assam. It is celebrated on the night of ‘Bhado Ekadasi’ which is generally in the mid of August.

Dress

Assam is rich in culture and tradition. Its main dresses include Golden Silk Fiber or Muga Kapur. The traditional dress of the women is ‘Chadar Mekhela’ and the traditional dress of the men is ‘Dhuti Kurta’.

Bodo Tribe

Bodo ladies

Bodo traditional dance

accept Mekhla as the customary dress and men wear Dhoti and Chaddar. The upper wrap is known as Riha worn with Chaddar by the women.

Dimasa Tribe

Both men

Traditional Dimasa dress

and women of this tribe wear costumes designed in household looms. There is a skirt type of attire called Rigu which is worn by the girls and women in this tribe.

Tai Phake Tribe

Chairchin is

Tai Phake girls in traditional dress

a beautiful striped girdle which is used by the women of Tai Phake Tribe. Men of this tribe wear a loin cloth with red and black stripes, white or yellow lining which is known as Fatong. A short is also worn with Fatong which is known as Sho.

Rabha Tribe

The traditional

Rabha girls traditional dance

costume is called Koum Kontong is worn by the people of this tribe. The costume is covered like a shirt all across the waist. Women adorn vibrant blouses to look beautiful.

Mishing Tribe

Women of

Traditional Mishing dress

this tribe wear Sampa all across their west. Married women wear an additional piece of cloth with this dress on their hip. To cover the upper body parts, women wear Galuk. Hura is also worn by some of the females of Mishing Tribe. Men wear dhoti with white kurta.

Karbi Tribe

The men

Karbi man 

wear dress which includes Choi Hongthor, Choiik Choiiang, Pe-Seleng, Rikong, Poho, Chepan, Mulajin etc. and the women folk wear Pini Kamplak, Jiso, Pekok, Vamkok, Pe-Seleng etc.

Khampti Tribe

The Khampti

Khampti people traditional dance

male wear a shirt known as ‘siu pachai’ and a lungi known as ‘phanoi’. The Khampti female wear a blouse ‘siu pasao’ with a long skirt ‘sinn’ and a cloth used as scarf called ‘famia’.

Deori Tribe

Male use

Deori people

a loin cloth called ‘lkhoon’ and it is usually combines with a shirt or sporting. They adorn white cloth and use a necklace called ‘kothamoni’ in traditional social functions. Female use a kind of skirt called ‘ujaduba lgoon’ along with a sheet called ‘jokachhiba’.

Places to Visit

Assam is rich in natural beauty and here we will discuss only about some few popular places for visiting.

Kamakhya Temple

This Temple

Kamakhya Temple

is a unique temple and it is the heart of the city where it is located (Guwahati). Mythologically , Lord Vishnu severed corpse of Mother Sati into pieces with Sudarshan Charkra while Lord Shiva ( Mother Sati’s husband) was carrying her dead body. Legends reveal that her ‘yoni’ or vagina fell here, making it one of the most sacred of Shaktipithas.

Sivasagar

It is formerly

Ranghar

known as Rangpur, was the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. It is well known for its Ahom palaces and monuments. Many ‘Dol’ and ‘Sagar’ you can found in Sivasagar which are located with the natural beauty.

Majuli Island

This is the

A sunset pic of Majuli 

world’s largest river island. It has been the cultural capital of the Assamese civilization since the 16^th century. Over 22 Vaishnava monasteries or satras are located here.

Kaziranga National Park

It is situated

One horned rhino in Kaziranga National Park

in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam and it hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rihnoceroses. It is home to large populations of elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.

Manas National Park

It is well

Manas National Park

known for tigers and it is a world Heritage Site. The park is known for its rare and endangered Assam roofed turtle, golden langur, pygmy hog, hispid hare and wild water buffalo.

Hajo

It is an

Entrance of Madhab temple

ancient pilgrimage centre for three religions: Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. The Hayagriva Madhava Mandir and Poa Macca are its main attractions and you can find here huge turtles in the ponds. 

Agnigarh

It is a

Agnigarh

hillock located in Tezpur district of Assam. It provides a mesmerizing view of the Brahmaputra and Tezpur. In Hindu mythology, it is the site of the fortress which was built by Banasura to keep his daughter Usha in isolation.

Assam State Museum

It is also

Assam State Museum

known as Assam Rajyik State Museum. It is located in the heart of Guwahati city in Dighali Pukhuri tank. It is one of the most famous museums of the North-East India which is rich in culture of ancient history as well as the modern history of North –East India.