Handmade in India

CRAFTS - ASSAM
Bamboo nesting
basket
Coiled cane work
Bamboo craft of
Assam
Brass ware
Cane furniture
Bell metal work
Eri Silk spinning
Muga textiles
Handloom weaving
Sheetlapati - reed mat
Flattened bamboo
mat
Terracotta
Gold jewellery
Districts - 23
Craftspersons - 1.01 Lakhs
Languages
Assamese
Bodo
Dimasa Cachari
Rabha
Karbi
Mishing
Miri
Bengali
Nepali
Festivals
Bihu - harvest festival
Vishwakarma Puja
Durga Puja
Christmas
Landmarks
Kamakhya Temple
Kazirange Reserve
Majuli Island
Sibsagar Lake
Badarpur Ghat
Weekly Markets
Sualkuchi
The northeast of India comprises of the
states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Trpura
and Meghalaya. Assam is centrally
located in the northeast and is the
gateway to these states.
The rivers Brahmaputra and Barak demarcate the state into two valleys,
which are seperated by Mikir and North Cachar Hills. Majuli, the world`s
largest river island, is located in the Brahmaputra. The humid climate with
its rich biodiversity has given creative expression to their material culture.
The landscape is mostly agrarian, where skills of handloom weaving and
sericulture are abundant, making the Assamese villages self-sufficient in
food, clothing and shelter. The Vrindavani Vastra, a 15th century
Vaishnavite silk scroll with episodes from the life of Vishnu and his
avatars, is and outstanding example of their early weaving expertise.
Assam has two indigenous silks, muga and eri. The region has diverse
communities of tribes and ethnic groups, each having their individual
characteristics, lifestyles, raditions and languages that are
vividly expressed in Bihu, harvest festivals; architecture,
dress, music, dance and crafts. The coming of the Ahoms,
a Mongolian dynasty, across the eastern hills in mid 13th
century was a turning point in Assam`s history. The local
tribes mostlyyielded to the Ahoms while the Chutia and
Kachari kings held out in the east. The Ahoms called this
land Assam. Several tribes of Tebeto-Burmese origin
came into the region from China and Myanmar. The tribes
of the plains comprise Bodo, Mishing, Mech, Rabha,
Lalung and Karbi and Dimasa Cachari tribes of the hill
districts. The non tribal population is predominantly
Assamese and Bengali with a sizeable muslim population.
Assam`s crafts are a natural extension of the vegetation
and climate. Its large resource of oil and timber has been
industrially exploited and many cities have grown in the
process of modernization. Assam is also the access point
for the other six states.
Inset : Detail of a cotton gamocha, shoulder cloth, which
is prdominantly white with a border brocaded with red
cotton yarn. Seen here is a jhappi, bamboo rain shield
motif, symbolizing the harvest festival.
1. Boatmen live in very frugal shelters on the banks of Brahmaputra in Guwahati. The flooring is made of flattened bamboo, woven
bamboo strips used in the arched cover and oars are made of whole bamboo culms.
2. Guwahati on the banks of Brahmaputra, a gigantic river which cuts across Assam from east to west, covering 720 km.
3. Bamboo rafts being transported on the Barak River, Cachar district in southern Assam.
4. Dimasa Cachari man weaving a bamboo basket in North Cachar Hills district adjoining Nagaland.
5. Ruins of the medieval Kachari kingdom in Dimapur, bordering Assam plains.
Attire
Women:
Muga mekhla -
draped skirt & blouse
Pat chaadar -
mulberry silk wrap
Men:
Shirt & dhoti (lower
garment)
Gamocha - shoulder
cloth
Eri silk shawl