The Assamese culture has a beautiful and rich tradition. Here, in this blog post, we will focus on the Food Habits, Dress and Ornaments of Assam and its people.
Food Habits:
The climatic conditions of Assam are useful for the cultivation of rice as rainfall occurs most of the time of the year. There are three varieties of rice grains available in Assam: Aahu, Saali and Bau. Hence, rice s one of the main agricultural products in Assam and it is also the staple food of the people.
The people in Assam enjoys a variety of cereals made from rice like Chira, Muri, Aakhoi, Hurum, Pithaguri, Sanddah, etc. Pithas or rice cakes are a treat which is made from rice and has many types such as Til Pitha, Ghila Pitha, Pheni Pitha, Sutuli Pitha, Tekeli Mukhar Pitha, Pani Pitha, etc. The dishing up of these delicacies is mostly done during Bihu. Komal Chowal is also a delicious Jalpaan of Assamese society.
Fruits also assume significance in the cultural life of the Assamese people as they are used in various functions and festivals. In most Assamese households, trees like mango, jackfruit, guava, jamun, rabab lemon (a lemon peculiar to Assam), coconut, etc are a common sight. In religious ceremonies, the use of fruits like mango and sugarcane are a must.
There are some green vegetables which are peculiar to this State only, like the Lafa, Mati Kanduri, Dhekia, Manimuni, Bhedai Lata, etc. Non-vegetarian food is common among people of all status, be it fish, eggs or meat of duck, chicken, mutton, pigeon, etc. There is no religious ban on consumption as such. Fish, especially with mild sour curry, is a favourite among them. To add to their taste, many homemade pickles like Kharoli, Kahudi, Behua, Pachala are taken with the main course.
Apart from this, Assamese people are downright lovers of Khar (a dish seasoned with alkali). The word lover may be appropriate for there is a saying - 'Khar Khowa Asomiya' meaning Assamese who eats Khar. People of Assam also consume bitter vegetables like Kerela, Sukuta, Bet Ganj, Sewali flower, etc.
Medicinal qualities are attached to some of the foods consumed by Assamese people. These are koldil, Pounoua, Sulkati, Masandari, Matikanduri, Doron Bann, Neempat, Narasingha, etc.
Dress:
The dress of Assamese people has a social and cultural association with it lending it a grace that is unique to it. Ancient texts like Kalika Puran, Shri Harsha Charita and paintings etc. have proper evidence regarding the apparel of the people of ancient Assam. During the Ahom rule, the Assamese dress witnessed tremendous change.
In older times, Assamese men wore Dhuti (Dhoti) till their ankles and covered their upper body with a garment called Chador. Women wore Riha-Mekhela. The Ahoms introduced Sola(Shirt), Chapkan, etc. It was from the time of Ahoms that menfolk started wearing turbans. Ahom history has mentions of kings and other high officials wearing turbans.
Ornaments:
Assamese jewellers have always been able to craft beautiful ornaments of gold and silver and also encrust precious stones on them. Men and women have always adorned themselves with ornaments.
In the days of Ahome rule, menfolk used to wear ornaments like Motamoni, Biri, Magardana, Lokaparo and Kundal. Women liked to wear Keru, Kanphul, Thuriya, Nalak, Kharu, Angathi (Rings), Kardhani, Baju, Keyur, Nupur and Kinkini etc. However, with the passage of time, the use of such ornaments have lessened.
0 Comments