It’s the last day of #WriteFestival and I can’t describe how
enriching the past 6 days have been. Taking part in this prompt is probably the
best thing I did for my blog in a long while. I hope #WriteTribe will come up
with more prompts like these 😀 Atleast it would keep the creative juices
flowing.
enriching the past 6 days have been. Taking part in this prompt is probably the
best thing I did for my blog in a long while. I hope #WriteTribe will come up
with more prompts like these 😀 Atleast it would keep the creative juices
flowing.
I have meant to write on this topic for a long time, but
somehow couldn’t manage. Well better late than never.
somehow couldn’t manage. Well better late than never.
7 Things about Assam
and its People
and its People
1) No, Momo is not our staple food. We love momo but
we have some amazing delicacies of our own. Tenga Mas and Outenga daal being my
favourite.
we have some amazing delicacies of our own. Tenga Mas and Outenga daal being my
favourite.
2) People from Assam are called Assamese not Assami
and not all Assamese have mongoloid features, i.e are chinky in your local
term. We are as Indian as you are. Our ancestor might have been a Prince from Mong
Mao, but that’s all. We are not foreigners so don’t treat us like one. (For
more read – Ahom Dynasty)
and not all Assamese have mongoloid features, i.e are chinky in your local
term. We are as Indian as you are. Our ancestor might have been a Prince from Mong
Mao, but that’s all. We are not foreigners so don’t treat us like one. (For
more read – Ahom Dynasty)
3) Our region boasts of some breathtaking locales. Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park is world Heritage site. Our region is one
of the richest biodiversity zones in the world. If you wish to visit, our
places are well connected through land, water and air. Yes we do have airports
in case you were wondering.
of the richest biodiversity zones in the world. If you wish to visit, our
places are well connected through land, water and air. Yes we do have airports
in case you were wondering.
(Imagine this conversation)
A: How will you go home?
Me: By flight.
A: {flabbergasted} You have airports in your place??
Me: Not at all, we ride elephants and sometimes hitch a ride on a flying
carpet.
carpet.
{Clicked in my uncle’s Tea Garden}
4) We DO NOT have dowry system. Having stayed in
south India for quite some time, you don’t know how proud I feel when I tell
people this fact. Our parents will chase you to the end of the world if you
demand one.
south India for quite some time, you don’t know how proud I feel when I tell
people this fact. Our parents will chase you to the end of the world if you
demand one.
5) Assamese language sounds similar to Bengali and
it does have a script of its own. Someone once asked me if Assam is near
Pakistan. Yeah that was the biggest Facepalm moment of my life. Please refer
the “Indian” Map in case you are in doubt.
it does have a script of its own. Someone once asked me if Assam is near
Pakistan. Yeah that was the biggest Facepalm moment of my life. Please refer
the “Indian” Map in case you are in doubt.
6) Bihu is the festival of Assam and Kopou phool or Foxtail orchid is the state flower.
{Clicked in our garden}
Let me share the best thing I like about Rongali Bihu (which
falls in mid April). Little children would form Bihu Toli (groups) and visit
neighbouring houses. Dressed in traditional attire they would sing and dance to
traditional and modern Bihu songs. Once they are done, the host would present
them with money and sweets. They all would gather together and the children
would sing a prayer and bless the household. {For more – Rongali Bihi in Assam }
falls in mid April). Little children would form Bihu Toli (groups) and visit
neighbouring houses. Dressed in traditional attire they would sing and dance to
traditional and modern Bihu songs. Once they are done, the host would present
them with money and sweets. They all would gather together and the children
would sing a prayer and bless the household. {For more – Rongali Bihi in Assam }
{Mom offering gift in a Horai}
7) Naamghar – which means prayer house. It is a
community prayer hall and there is no idol worship, not even Krishna.
community prayer hall and there is no idol worship, not even Krishna.
It feels good when people know about us. We are not all
about Jungle, terrorists and Chinese restaurant waiters. There’s more to us.
about Jungle, terrorists and Chinese restaurant waiters. There’s more to us.
I am taking part in #WriteFestival
Thank You so much for writing about Assam.I stay in Jorhat and whenever I am chatting with a local in other part of India, they are like Where is Assam?…or What, Assam? They even asked me whether we ate animals raw so I told them arcastically that we even eat people alive when they aanoy us and that very moment most of them searched for Assam in Wikipedia.Thank God now they know we are from India.And P.S. it was very nice of U to write about it.
I would love to visit those world heritage national parks one day. I will.
Good to know that you have no dowry system – It was meant only for agrarian families and it has long outgrown its usefulness, but it still continues in our 'cultured' society!
The national lavender-coloured flower is very beautiful 🙂
Destination Infinity
@Ranveer
thanks you so much. Do visit and let me know if you need any information 🙂
@Sugandha
A lot of my friends stay in Dibrugarh … love the climate there 🙂
thanks a lot
@Kathy
thank you so much
@Mina
yup it's traditional Muga Mekhela Chadar
thanks a lot 🙂
@Suzy
yeah do visit 🙂 I am pretty sure you will like it 🙂
@Writercat
thank you so much 😀
@Anuymous
Bihu bihu bihu te Rongalu bihu te 😀
now that just brought a huge smile 🙂
thank you 🙂
@Susan
thank you so much.
Me too looking forward to read more of your posts 🙂
@Shilpasharma
wow that's the same culture… I didn't know about that. thanks for sharing 😀
@ShellyMona
thank you so much 😀
@Neha
that's great 🙂 thanks a lot
@Aditi
I hope you enjoy your stay 😀 thanks for visiting
@Suresh
//Chase those dowry-seekers right out of the world.// hehehe yeah
thank you so much for the comments
@SG
That is so cool 😀 then this post is definitely not for you 😀 thanks for visiting
Such a lovely post! The sari in puic is the traditional Assameese sari?
I loved reading this, seeing the pictures, and learning things about your culture and homeland. Awesome!
Having spent some of awesome holidays in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh with my mother's cousins I have a soft corner for Assam.
And I understand, what you mean when people don't know the basics about north-eastern india.
I have few good friends from Assam and one of ma sweetest darling friend since college:) I am glad to read bout Bihu and ignore those crap heads who says you are not Indian and that there is no airport in Assam. I would love to visit your place which is a seat of rich culture. Thumbs up for this post:)
http://www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com
Offcorse you are part of India. Who don't know they are dumbshits.Lame on Geography.
I remember a folk bihu song back from my schooldays…Bihu bihu bihu te rongolia bihu te….correct me if am wrong…
http://sailorswiferamblings.blogspot.com/2013/09/seven-lessons-on-successful-blogging.html
Fascinating to learn about Assam. As a Canadian I don't know much about your corner of the world and am happy to be enlightened.
http://cattitudeandgratitude.blogspot.ca/2013/09/seven-things-i-cant-live-without.html
Thanks for sharing a bit about Assam. It's my dream to visit visit Kaziranga and a tea estate. Assam looks so beautiful.
You know, I loved your post.
Assam near Pakistan? Dumbness of some just amazes me.
#4 is a great thing. Felt so good after reading it.
In Punjab, we celebrate Lohri, kids form groups and go from house to house and sing songs about the festival, they are given popcorn, groundnut and gazak(we call it gachchak in Punjabi though) and then they bless the household. Those who didn't give them anything, they curse it too. 😛
Oh, one more thing, when I read the title I read 'Aasaram' instead of Assam. That chap is so much in the news that any word having a at start and am in end gets read as Aasaram by my eyes. 😀
Ah, tell me about stereotypes and general ideas about every thing. I was quite fortunate to visit Assam in Oct 2012 and I have witnessed almost everything that your post talks about. I'm quite happy about the 'no dowry' system. Hats off to you.
Though I haven't read all your posts, I was glad to be part of this challenge along with you. Thanks for the comments on my blog. Looking forward to continuing this interaction. Fingers crossed.
Joy always,
Susan
Great post!! Loved the Orchid click 🙂
I've only heard and seen online the beauty of Assam…Right now my cousin is posted there and we'll be travelling there soon! 🙂 🙂
Interesting!
My Aunt is from Assam. Knew some of these facts!
Bihu is around the same time as Vishu. I have heard of it before. It is good to know more about Assam. I hope to visit the place someday. Yes, I am sure I will enjoy the magic carpet ride. 🙂
Wonderful information about Assam…On TV I have seen talented Assamese youth taking part in talent search reality shows. Informative post…enjoyed reading it.
These are such a nice information to share. But I know most of them. My first job interview after I got my masters degree was in a tea estate in Assam. I always prepare for my interview. What they asked in my interview was hilarious. I almost took the job but things happen differently. And,I departed for USA.
What a lovely festival and a lovely ritual. That was the stand-out moment for me in this post.
I totally get the irritation that can be caused by the sort of non-Indian treatment. Ashamed to say it happens in my city too.
And THAT is great. Chase those dowry-seekers right out of the world.