About Assam

Assam......the rich, green land of rolling plains and dense forests is the gateway to the north eastern part of India. The mighty Brahmaputra river that has its origins in Tibet charts its majestic course through this state. This mystic land of eternal blue hills and beautiful rivers is renowned for its tea, rich flora and fauna, the world famous one horned rhinoceros and other rare species of wildlife on the verge of extinction. Barring Africa, there is perhaps no part of the world where such a variety of wildlife exists.

The stunning grandeur of it's dense tracts of topical forests, interspersed with emerald patchwork quilts of paddy and lush tea gardens, showcase the life-giving largesse of the mighty River Brahmaputra that dominates this land and its people, as it wends its way from the Manasarovar Lake in the higher reaches of the Tibetan plateau (as the Tsangpo) through Arunachal Pradesh (as the Siang), on to the plains of Assam, the second largest state in the Northeast.

The rich alluvial plains of the Assam valley (100 km at its widest) enjoy an abundance of natural riches. The state is the largest producer of timber in the country and has the oldest oil refinery in India. Its rich bio-diversity supports an immense range of rare and endangered creatures such as the one-horned rhinocerous, the golden langur, the Gangetic dolphin and the clouded leopard. Flanked by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh in the north and the east, its southern periphery is bordered by Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Meghalaya lies in the southwest, and West Bengal to the West. For six hundred years before the arrival of the British, the Ahoms ruled Assam from their state capital of Charaideo near present-day Sibsagar. The Ahoms were conquerors belonging to the Shan tribe of Burma. They came through the Patkai Range, and settled in the Bramhaputra valley after defeating the Kacharis in 1540AD. Subsequently, they consolidated their hold over the entire valley by successfully repulsing a series of invasions by the Mughals and the Bengal Sultans. In protecting the land from invasions the Ahoms established an environment for cultural pursuits that were free of any outside influence. King Rudra Singha is said to have opened up a trade route between Assam and Tibet and also encouraged Bengali musicians to stay at his court.

ART & CRAFTS:

The people of Assam have traditionally been craftsmen from time immemorial.Though Assam is mostly known for its exquisite silks and the bamboo and caneproducts, several other crafts are also made here.

Cane and Bamboo
Cane and bamboo have remained inseparable parts of life in Assam. They happen to be the two most commonly-used items in daily life, ranging from household implements to construction of dwelling houses to weaving accessories to musical instruments.
The Jappi, the traditional sunshade continues to be the most prestigious of bamboo items of the state, and it has been in use since the days when the great Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang came to Assam that visitors are welcomed with a jaapi. Cane and bamboo furnitures on the other hand have been a hit both in the domestic as well as the export market, while paati, the traditional mat has found its way into the world of interior decoration.

Metal Crafts
Bell-metal and brass have been the most commonly used metals for the Assamese artisan. Traditional utensils and fancy artiicles designed by these artisans are found inevery Assamese household. The Xorai and bota have in use for centuries, to offer betel-nut and paan while welcoming distinguished guests.
The entire population of two townships near Guwahati - Hajo and Sarthebari, are engaged in producing traditional bell-metal and brass articles. They have also usedtheir innovative skills to design modern day articles to compete with the changing times.

Gold, silver and copper too form a part of traditional metal craft in Assam and the State Museum in Guwahati has a rich collection of items made of these metals. Gold however is now used only for ornaments.

Handlooms
Assam is the home of several types of silks, the most prominent and prestigious being muga, the golden silk exclusive only to this state. Muga apart, there is paat, as also eri, the latter being used in manufacture of warm clothes for winter.Of a naturally rich golden colour, muga is the finest of India's wild silks. It is produced only in Assam. The women of Assam weave fairy tales in their looms. Skill to weave was the primary qualification of a young girl for her eligibility for marriage. This perhaps explains why Assam has the largest concentration of Handlooms and weavers in India. One of the world's finest artistic traditions finds expression in their exquisitely woven 'Eri', 'Muga' and 'Pat' fabrics. The traditional handloom silks still hold their own in world markets They score over factory-made silks in the richness of their textures and designs, in their individuality, character and classic beauty. No two handwoven silks are exactly alike. Personality of the weaver, her hereditary skill, her innate sense of colour and balance all help to create a unique product.
Today, India exports a wide variety of silks to western Europe and the United States, especially as exclusive furnishing fabrics. Boutiques and fashion houses, designers and interior decorators have the advantage of getting custom-woven fabrics in thedesigns, weaves and colours of their choice. A service that ensures an exclusive product not easily repeatable by competitors. The Tribals on the other hand have a wide variety of colourful costumes, some of which have earned International repute through the export market. Weaving in Assam is so replete with artistic sensibility and so intimately linked to folk life that Gandhiji, during his famous tour to promote khadi and swadeshi, was so moved that he remarked : "Assamese women weave fairy tales in their clothes!"