Assam

Assam has a mix culture. It is rich in its cultural and traditional heritage. It is known for its folk dances and cultural activities and also renowned for art and craft. A large number of fairs and festivals are held every year. The most important festivals are Kati Bihu, Bohag Bihu and Magh Bihu. Some of the other festivals celebrated here are Durga Puja, Diwali, Janmasthami and Holi. The major religion here is Hinduism. The other religion followed here are Sikhism, Islam, Christianity etc. Assamese is the main language spoken over here. But people also speak Hindi and English.

Fairs and Festivals of Assam :

The fairs and festivals in Assam is a mirror of the lifestyle of the people of Assam. These fairs and festivals attract a large number of visitors from all over the world throughout the year. Some of the major fairs and festivals of Assam are.

Majuli Festival: The Assam Majuli Festival is held on the bank of river Luit, the location of which has an immensely beautiful and scenic view. The river Luit is just 1.5 kilometers from the sub-divisional headquarter of Majuli Island, Garamur. The Festival organizes many cultural programs with the cultural troupes of Majuli as well as troupes from the rest of the country.

Elephant Festival: It is one of the major festivals of the north eastern state of Assam in India. This is one of the largest elephant festivals in India for the purpose of conservation and protection of Asiatic elephants. It attracts a large of tourist from all over the world during The Elephant Festival of Kaziranga in Assam.

Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu): One of the most beautiful festivals of Assam which marks the end of the harvesting season when there is abundance of everything. This festival is celebrated in smallest of town to the cities with great joy, although the mode of celebration differs from the villages to the cities.

Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu) : Of the three Bihu Festivals held in Assam, the Rongali Bihu Festival is celebrated in Spring. The Assamese people, irrespective of caste, creed, faith, religion and belief, take part in the Bihu Festival.

• Ambubachi Mela: It is one of the famous mela celebrated in the capital city of Guwahati, in the Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati. The Ambubachi is a ritual of asceses observed with “Tantrik means”. It is believed that the presiding goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch.
• Assam Tea Festival: It is one of the famous festivals celebrated in the district of Jorhat in the northeastern state of Assam, which is famous for its Tea Garden and is the hub of tea industry. Jorhat has the world famous Teklai Experimental Centre.
• Ali Ai Ligang: It is one of the famous festivals celebrated with the flavor of brotherhood and harmony. It is a spring festival celebrated by the Mishing Tribe of people.
• Dehing Patkai Festival: It is one of the famous festivals celebrated in Assam and is named after the majestic Patkai range and the mischievous Dehing River. This festival is a combination of tribal fairs, tea heritage tours, golfing, adventure sports, and wildlife pleasure trip.
• Kati Bihu Festival: One of the most beautiful festivals of Assam and it starts with the construction of a hut like structure of thatched roof. The structure, "meji ghar", built on the rice fields is set aflame on the first day of the festival. An important festival of India, the Assamese community prepares for a grand feast, traditional dances, and bullfights. The Bihu dance of Assam is world famous

Must Visiting Places In Assam:

• Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati:- Kamakhya Temple situated some 5 km from the main city on the Nilachal Hill, is one of the most sacred Hindu Shrines of India. Goddess Kamakhya is worshipped here. Ambubachi is celebrated every year in the middle of June in this temple. Many devotees from across the country gather here during this Mela.

• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Guwahati: - It is famous for its great Indian one horned Rhinoceros. There are approx 80 Rhinoceros, that can be easily seen around. Besides Rhinoceros the other animals are Asiatic buffalo, leopards, wild bear, cat, etc.

• River Cruise, Guwahati:- One of the major attractions of Guwahati is the River Cruise on the Brahmaputra River. To go on a cruise on the mighty river is a thrilling experience.

• Umananda Temple, Guwahati:- On the peacock island in the middle of the Brahmaputra, this Shiva temple was built in 1664. It is believed that Lord Shiva by using his third eye burnt Kamdeva at this place. Every year Shivaratri is celebrated in this temple in a mesmerizing way. The island is believed to be the world's smallest human inhabited island. The world's largest river island is Majuli in Assam.

• Digboi: - Known as ‘The Oil City’, Digboi is one of the important cities of Assam in Tinsukia District. During late 19th century, the Crude oil that was found here, which is the one of the oldest oil fields in the world. It believed that name of the city got from the phrase “dig-boy-dig”, which was used by the British to tell the laborers that they dug the fields for crude oil. Apart from Oil Refinery, the city is also known for its traditional textiles and handicraft as well.The waxdolls are most popular here.

• Kaziranga National Park, Golaghat:- It is a World Heritage Site and is very popular for being the home of two-third of the world’s population of one-horned Rhinoceroses. Plus, it has a great density of tigers and was declared as Tiger Reserve in the year, 2006. The Park is located on the border of Eastern Himalayas which is a house of various species of animal and plant life. In fact, the park has four rivers crisscrossing through it, including the Brahmaputra.

• Majuli: - Located on the upper reaches of the river Brahmaputra in Assam, Majuli is the largest fresh Water midriver deltaic island in the world. This beautiful island is created by the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River. This splendid island town known as the nature’s haven and it is the home to various beautiful migratory birds such as the greater adjutant stork, pelican, Siberian crane and the whistling teal etc.

• Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary:- Situated in the Karbi Anglong district, Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary is another popular wildlife sanctuary of Assam. It is located at about 25 km from Golaghat town. This amazing sanctuary is the home of a number of wild animals such as the golden langur, Elephant, Gaur, Bear, Sambar, Barking deer, Rhesus macaque, Hoolock gibbon and Wild pig. It is one of the oldest Sanctuary of this region containing Hot water spring and Waterfalls along with about 51 rare species of Orchid.

• Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Jorhat: - It is the only wildlife sanctuary in India which is home to the hillock gibbon, the only gibbon found in the country. It is located about 20 kilometres from Jorhat town. The sanctuary has a small rest house that can be booked in advance.

• Chetia Gaon: -Is Located 110 kilometers from Majuli is Chetia Gaon one of the well-known tourist sites situated in North Lakhimpur. It offers ample scope of adventure for tourists such as trekking in the nearby forests and along the banks of the river.

• Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary:- Located on the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra in Sivasagar district in Assam. The sanctuary is located atabout 22 km away from Sivasagar town, which was established as a Bird Sanctuary in August 1999 by the Government of Assam. It is the home of more than 267 species of birds including 70 species of migratory birds, which have been identified and recorded at PaniDihing.

• Sibsagar Lake, Sibsagar: - Sibsagar Lake or Sibsagar Tank is an artificial lake which was built by Queen Ambika, wife of King Shiva Singha, in the year 1734. Sibsagar town was named after this lake which is situated at the center of the town. There are parks, gardens, museum, masjid, Buddhist monastery, church and temples on the banks of Sibsagar Lake.

• Maibong: - Is located around 137kms approx, from the town Silchar. Major tourist attractions in Maibong include ruins of the old city of Kachari Kingdom that is located on the south of the hill station. You must also visit the Longthaini Noh Temple and the Ramchandi Temple that was constructed in the 12th century and is a monolithic temple with two roofs.

• Umrangshu: -This hill station located at approx 197kms from the town Silchar, and is located between the border of Assam and Meghalaya. This place is famous for its scenic beauty and with the beautiful view of valley.

• Nameri National Park: -Nameri National Park is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries of North East region, which is situated on the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in Assam. This amazing park is located at approximately 35 km from Tezpur. It is spread over 200 sq km, it is considered to be one of the richest as well as the most threatened reservoirs of the flora and fauna. The park was established as Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary since September 1985.

• Bhairabi Temple, Tezpur: - Is situated in the outskirts of Tezpur, the temple overlooks the majestic Kolia Bhomora Bridge running across the River Brahmaputra. The Bhairabi Temple is located close to the ruins of the Bamuni Hills. It is believed that Princess Usha, the daughter of Banasura used to regularly come here to pray to Goddess Durga. This signifies that the temple is very old.

Staple food of the people over here is bhat (rice) with dal (lentils), masoor jool (fish curry), with mangxô (meat curry) or xaak and bhaji (herbs and vegetables). Many dishes are made of rice. Two main variety of traditional meal in Assam are Khar (an Alkali, named after its main ingredient) and the sour dish tenga. Khorika is the smoked or fired meat eaten with the meal. The various meats which are eaten in Assam are mutton, fowl, duck/goose, fish, pigeon, beef and pork(among Muslim, Christian and tribal communities respectively) ; these being often involved with religious ceremonies. Other kinds of meat include grasshoppers, locusts, silkworms, snails, eels, wild fowl and other birds, deer meat and so on. Many tribal households still continue to brew their traditional drinks; variously known as Laupani, Xaaj, Paniyo, Jou, Joumai, Hor, Apang, and so on. One can find large number of restaurants serving Assamese, Chinese, Continental and various other dishes.