Assamese Culture and Traditions

Assam is a place where rituals and culture has a great value in the life of every personality. From the very old age of Assamese history the land of Assam is very rich in the sense of culture.

Traditional Dresses:

The dress code of Assamese people has a great value on its own. The Assamese ladies wear their traditional “Mekhela Chador” and “Riha Mekhela”. “Riha” is usually worn by wrapping in three parts of the body and the “Mekhela” is worn on the waist having three fold. The originated Mekhela Chador is usually made from Assam’s pride “Paat” and “Muga”. 

The gents of Assam successively wear Dhuti wrapping around the waist. The upper part of the body covered with a Kaamiz(shirt) and wrapping a “Seleng chador” over that is prestige of the males of Assamese culture.

Ornaments: 

The beautiful and mesmerizing ornaments of gold and silver is used in Assamese culture from a very long time. These Assamese ornaments carry the significance of Assamese civilization and culture. The ornaments worn by the Assamese males are: “Biri”, “magardana”, “motamoni”, “Kundal” and “Lukapar” etc.

The ornaments worn by the Assamese ladies are: “Keru”, “Kaanful(Ear ring)”, “Kharu(bangle)”, “Aanguthi(finger ring)”, “Naalok”, “Keyur”, “Baju”, “Kinkini”, “Nupur(Anklet)” etc.

 

 HANDLOOM: 

Handloom of Assam reflects the brighter side of Assamese culture. Through this medium the female society of Assam has able to catch eye of the whole world. It is also a medium of earning of some Assamese people. Mahatma Gandhi when visited Assam praised  this great work of  arts and crafts and said :

 

Taamul Paan(beetle nut and leaf):

Taamul Paan has great value in the field of Assamese tradition. In the time of Ahom kigdom tamulpaan is widely used. It is a tradition in Assamese culture to have a piece of tamulpaan after having their meal. Assamese people also offer Tamulpaan when some guests come to their house. It also has a significant place in the religious and social functions of Assamese tradition. There is no rules and regulation for having this. It also has a great impact in the Assamese wedding ceremony. It is a ritual to offer Tamulpaan to the people attending the ceremony.

Even people can apologies by offering tamulpaan on Sarai(a tray with a stand). In short we can say that Assamese life is incomplete without tamul paan. From marriage ceremony to death ceremony taamul paan can’t be separated.

 

 Jolpaan(the Assamese Breakfast):

Traditional Assamese breakfast Jolpaan does not need any cooking. It is a snack,breakfast or a mini meal usually consist of various forms of rice like ground roasted rice(Xandoh),Boiled in its husk and flattened(Sira), puffed rice(Akhoi,Muri) and variety of glutinous rice found in Assam called “Borachaul”,”Kumolchaul” and can be eaten along with Curd(Doi), Jaggery (Gur) and various Pithas. This is also served at bihu festivals,weddings or other occasions too.

RECIPE of JOLPAAN(Assamese traditional food):

Ingredients: Sira

                          Muri

                          Doi

                          Gur(jaggery)

                         Akhoi etc

Method: Wash and Soak the Sira/Kumol chaul for few minutes. In a bowl just spread the beaten rice/Sira, Akhoi, Muri, Jaggery, Now add curd/Yoghurt/Doi above it. Now serve and enjoy the food.

                 

 

 

  

No-Khuwa: 

In Assamese “No” means new and “Khuwa” means to eat. They taste the first spoon of newly cultivated crops and also thank their god by this celebration. People invite their neighbors and relative to share the moment of joy.

 

Assamese Marriage:  

Marriage is the starting of a new chapter of life. In other words the second innings of life. In every society there is some rituals and religious views associated with the marriage.Assamese people also celebrated the marriage with colorful joys and excitement but there is a sadness hidden in it.

 

Aath Mongola:

Aath Mongola is an old tradition of Assam. Aath Mongola is the ritual of inviting the bridegroom to his in laws place on the 8^th day of the marriage. On that day eight dishes are prepared for this occasion.

  

Bhekuli Bia (marriage ceremony of frog):

The Assamese word “Bhekuli” means Frog and “Bia” means Marriage. When there is very dry and shortage of rain, people of Assam organize a mythical marriage between two frogs. This marriage is perform during summer to please the God of rain (Varun Dev) helping it to bring the Monsoon which ensures a good harvesting. In this marriage two frogs are caught. One is made a bright and the other groom. This marriage is performed following all the custom of usual Assamese marriage. People believe that if the frog trod during this marriage rain will come.

Naamghar:

 

The main source to make this culture alive is the “Naamghar” and the “Satras”. This Naamghar and the Satras have a great impact on everyone’s life. The devotees of Baishnab have their prayer together in the “Naamghar” and Satras and do their Pujas and various rituals. The satra and naamghar considered as the holy places of the people of Assam. The followers of Baishnab religion organize “Naamkirtan” in this Naamghar.

 

Bhauna(traditional form of Assamese drama):

Bhauna is the traditional form of entertainment with religious message relevant in Assam. Bhauna was created by Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva. He himself wrote seven Dramas. This plays are popularly known as “Ankiya Naat” and their staging is known as Bhauna. The first Bhauna was “Sihnajatra” where Sankardeva himself wrote it and played the role of Bishnu. It is a simple drama which shows the victory of truth at the climax, generally using fictions or mythological kings, queens, demons, gods etc. In Bhauna real man and woman play the role of different characters. They speak dialogues in “Brajjawali”, often in lyrical form. In earlier days the men played the roles of women in the drama. The main drama is generally is proceed by a performance of the Gayan(singers)-Bayan(instrumentalist). It’s a musical perform with traditional instruments like Khul, Taal,Doba Negera etc(All the instruments were created by Sankardeva. The “Sutrdhar”(anchor)carries the whole drama sincerely and describes it whenever narration is wanted.