Travel Guide toAssam

Assam has a rich and diverse culture shaped by several ethnic groups and indigenous communities of various origins. The ethnic groups can be broadly grouped into hill tribes and plain tribes, each with their own languages, traditions, and cuisine. The cultural diversity of this state runs deep in both classical religion and tribal heritage — and what makes it truly special is how alive it all remains today. The modern Assamese culture is largely an integration of the various kingdoms that have ruled the land over the ages.

The Koch Bodo Kacharis in the west, Sonowal Kacharis in the east, and Dimasa Kacharis of the Dima Hasao hills are considered the oldest inhabitants of the region, all of Tibeto-Burman origin. The Bodos are today the largest tribal community in Assam, dwelling primarily near the foothills of Bhutan, and are well known for the rhythmic Bagurumba dance and nature-worship of Bathow. The majority of the Assamese-speaking population arrived with the spread of Hinduism during antiquity, inhabiting the vast plains of the Brahmaputra valley. Bihu is their main festival, and the classical Sattriya dance of the Vaishnavite monks — now recognized by UNESCO as a masterwork of intangible heritage — and the mystic Deodhani dance are among the most captivating art forms you'll encounter anywhere.

Numerous tribal communities — the Rabhas, Tiwa, Hajong, Mishing, Deori, Matak, and Moran — coexist across the Brahmaputra valley. The Mishing community of Majuli island originally dwelled in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh but migrated to the plains to live peaceful lives on stilts along the river's shifting banks. The Tai Ahoms, who invaded from Myanmar and ruled during the medieval period from their capital in Sibsagar, had the greatest influence in shaping Assamese culture. Other Tai groups — Tai Aiton, Tai Phake, Tai Turung, Tai Khamyang, and Tai Khampti — later followed in search of the Ahoms and adopted the local culture and language.

The arts and crafts of Assam are extraordinary. Muga silk — a luminous golden fabric found nowhere else on Earth — is hand-spun in villages where women weave the Mekhela Sador, a traditional dress with intricate floral designs. The Gamosa, a famous woven motif, symbolizes Assamese culture and has wide ceremonial usage. Bell-metal craftsmen in western Assam prepare the iconic Xorai utensil. The decorative Jaapi, a large farmer's hat, is present in nearly every home. The monastic order of Majuli island has preserved their traditions of mask-making and papyrus painting since the fifteenth century. Every tribe has its own unique patterns and colors in its textiles.