Interesting Facts about Assam You Probably Didn’t Know

The land of blue hills and red rivers, the state of Assam is a treasure trove of natural beauty, biodiversity, diverse culture and history. The entire state is perhaps among the very few unexplored places of India. The mystic stance and the pleasing ambiance, makes it impeccable place to visit. It is often referred to as the “Gateway of North-East India” and it is one of the most important states of the region. It is known across the globe for its tea production and as the home to one-horned rhinoceros; however, the enchanting land of Assam has many more interesting things in its treasure trove, which are worth knowing. There are so many cliché notions about the state; nevertheless, here are some interesting facts about the state that will broaden your perspective about the place.

 A fest of Assam, Jonbeel Mela

Probably a lesser known fact even to Assamese people is about the Jonbeel Mela. It is a 3 days community festival held at Dayang Belguri in Morigaon district of Assam. It was started during the 15th century by Ahom Kings and it still continues. It is held in the month of Magh of the Hindu calendar and the unique feature of this festival is that it revives the dead and gone concept of ‘barter system’ in which agricultural produce and native products are exchanged. This festival is inaugurated by the King of the Tiwa tribe who then collects taxes from the people based on their earnings.

Assam has a state Anthem

Did you know that Assam also has a state Anthem? Yes, ‘O Mur Apunar Dex’ is the state Anthem, which was officially adopted in the year 1927 at Axom Chhatra Xonmilon held in Tezpur. It was written by Rasaraj Laxminath Bezbarua, which was attuned by Kamala Prasad Agarwala. It was first published in an Assamese Journal named Baahi in the year 1909.

Assam is the home to World’s Largest River Island, Majuli

Majuli, the largest river island is situated in the state of Assam and falls under the jurisdiction of Jorhat district. It is formed by the Brahmaputra River in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, a tributary of River Brhamaputra united by the Subansiri River on the north. It is also the centre for Assamese culture and has preserved it with great care since ages. It is without any doubt a gem of the state, which has developed into one of the major tourist attractions.

Mayong, the Magical Land of Assam

Mayong is a sleepy town located in Morigaon District. It is infamously famous across the globe for being the hub of witchcraft. There are several folklore and myths associated with the town, which testifies such practices in the place. It is an ancient town that finds its mention in the great Indian Epic Mahabharata, according to which Ghatotkach, the son of Bheem ruled over this region and was also a proficient magician. Even today, people are afraid of going to the town as it is believed that the craft is being practiced even today.

Place where birds commit mass suicide, Jatinga

A village snuggled on the rim of Halflong, amid lush greenery, serene hills and natural beauty; Jatinga has created a buzz for the mass suicide committed by birds. It is a small village in the Dima Hasao district of Assam known for the mysterious death of birds flying to that region. It is an unsolved mystery and it has been over 100 years that no one could find the actual phenomenon behind the death of hundreds of birds during a particular time of the year. How many of you knew about this bizarre, yet interesting fact about the state?

Assam is the home to Asia’s first oil Refinery

Digboi, a quaint town in the Tinsukia district of Assam is known to be birth-place of Indian Oil Industry. This is the place where Asia’s first and World’s oldest oil refinery in operation is located. During the time of 2nd World War, the oil fields in the town produced nearly 7,000 barrels of oil per day. The Digboi Oil Refinery is presently under the Assam division of Indian Oil Corporation and even today, it produces 3 lakh tones of crude oil along with other petroleum products like kerosene, diesel and petrol.

Assam has a traditional form of theater, Bhaona

Bhaona is a traditional form of theater based on religious theme, especially Ramayana. It was founded by Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva during the early 16th century. He wrote some plays that sent out a religious message to the people of the state. It is known as Ankiya Nats and is usually performed in the Satras and Namghars. There are certain aspects that make it unique and one among them is that these plays are performed solely by men. Even the female roles are played by men, which makes it interesting to watch.

Standing gracefully on the banks of the River Brahmaputra, Assam has several unique and interesting things that even many Assamese do not know. These are just a few facts about the state that you probably didn’t know about; however, there are many more such interesting things about the state that are worth knowing.