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