Gamucha, an honorary piece of cloth commonly used for Felicitation in Assam

The "Gamucha", a white rectangular piece of cotton hand woven cloth with primarily a red border on three sides and red woven motifs on the fourth (in addition to red, other colors are also used) is put to many uses. It is used as a towel, as a waistcloth or a loincloth; a Bihu dancer wraps it around the head in a knot, it is also hung around the neck at the prayer hall and thrown over the shoulder to signify social status or respect. "Gamucha"s", also known as "Bihuwaans", are offered during Bihu as a token of love. Significantly the "Gamucha" is used equally by all, irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.

"Tamul Paan" served in a Bota, a traditional Bell metal Utensil

"Tamul Paan" (the areca nut and betel leaves) or Guapan are considered as the offers of devotion, respect and friendship. Guests are offered "Tamul Paan" in a traditional bell metal serving "Bota" as a mark of honour. Chewing "Tamul Paan" gives a kind of high and feel good factor. "Tamul Paan" is integral part of all social and religious ceremonies of the Assamese people. It is an ancient tradition and is being followed since time-immemorial.

Jaapi, a traditional symbol of Assam

"Jaapi" is worn in a style of Bihu dance, used as protection against the elements, offered as a sign of respect in ceremonies, and placed as a decorative item around the house, especially near the front door as a welcome sign. Plain "Jaapi" were used by farmers for protection from the sun and rain while working in the fields, while ornate "Jaapi" were worn as a status symbol by Assamese royalty and nobility.

Traditional Bell Metal "Xorai"

"Xorai" a traditional symbol of Assam, is a manufactured bell-metal product and is considered as an article of great respect by the people of Assam. There are "Xorai"s" with or without a cover on the top. Hajo and Sarthebari are the most important centers of traditional bell-metal and brass crafts in Assam.

Xorai"s"are used to offer "Tamul Paan" as a sign of welcome and thanks for guests. It is also used as a utensil to offer Prasad, food and other items in front of the Lord in an altar or "Naamghar". "Xorai"s" are also used as decorative pieces and are also offered as a gift to a person of honour during felicitations.

Assam is the home of several types of silks, the most prominent and prestigious being "Muga", the natural golden silk exclusive only to Assam. Apart from "Muga", there are other two varieties called "Paat", a creamy-bright-silver coloured silk and "Eri", a variety used for manufacturing warm clothes for winter. Apart from Sualkuchi, the centre for the traditional silk industry, in almost every part of the Brahmaputra Valley, rural households produce silk and silk garments with excellent woven designs. Moreover, various ethno-cultural groups in Assam make different types of cotton garments with unique woven designs and wonderful colour combinations.

Traditional Mekhela Chadors are made from Cotton, Muga, Paat Silk or Eri Silk.  However, now a day"s some modern low-budget Mekhela Chadors are also made with varying blends of Cotton and Muga or Paat Silk with synthetic materials.

Traditional Muga Silk Mekhela Chador

Mekhela Chador is an indigenous traditional Assamese dress worn by women. There are two main pieces of cloth that are draped around the body. The bottom portion, draped from the waist downwards is called the Mekhela. It is in the form of a very wide cylinder that is folded into pleats to fit around the waist and tucked in. The Chador, a lengthy piece of cloth, has one end tucked into the upper portion of the Mekhela and the rest draped around the rest of the body and pinned to the blouse. The Mekhela Chador is invariably worn with a blouse underneath which covers the top half of the body and an underskirt with a string is often used. A Riha is still worn as part of the Assamese bridal trousseau and in other indigenous traditional events like Bihu etc.

Traditional Assamese Ornaments crafted at Ranthali, Nagaon, Assam

The jewellery is typically hand-made, and the designs mostly depict flora and fauna treasures of the region. Traditional designs of Assamese jewellery are simple but decorated with vibrant red gemstone, ruby or mina. Black, red and green colors on gold jewellery look very gorgeous and these colors also dominate the traditional dresses of tribes and communities of the northeastern states.

Bihu dancers playing the Lahori Gogona

The dances are accompanied by musical instruments like "Dhol" (Dholak), pepa, gogana, banhi(flute) etc. Though the origin of the Bihu dance is unknown, the first official endorsement is cited to be when Ahom king Rudra Singha invited Bihu dancers to perform at the Ranghar fields sometime around 1694 on the occasion of Rongali Bihu.       >

A group performing Satriya Nritya

The core of Satriya Nritya has usually been mythological stories. This was an artistic way of presenting mythological teachings to the people in an accessible, immediate, and enjoyable manner.

Six to ten dancers perform this dance and produce a good number of attractive formations displaying the cymbals. This dance can be performed in larger groups as well. It is performed to a very fast beat. This beat is known as "7hiya Nom". The dance can be seen during festive occasions in and around Barpeta and Guwahati.

A glimpse of the Bhor Tal Nritya

A troupe performing Jhumur Dance

The tea tribes have a synthesized form of dance called "Jhumur Nach", performed by girls and boys together, or, sometimes by the girls alone, with precision of footwork while tightly clasping each other's waist.     

A group of girls performing the Bagurumba dance wearing traditional attires

A tourist in Assam can see this dance in the Bodo inhabited areas of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Darrang and Sonitpur districts. It is usually practiced during Baisagu, a festival of the Bodos in the Bishuba Sankranti or mid-April. The Bagurumba dance is also called "butterfly dance" because this attractive folk dance of the Bodo tribe of Assam resembles the movement of birds and butterflies.

A Bihu dancer playing the Dhol

The "Dhol" is a double-sided barrel drum covered with goat, cow or buffalo skin and is played with a stick on one side and a handon the other. "Dhol" like instruments are found in almost every culture of the world, however, the Assamese "Dhol"or "PatiDhol" is distinguished by its small size and relatively produces a loud sound. These are extensively used in Bihu Geets, dances, and have also become a part of modern-day music.

A Bihu dancer playing the traditional "Pepa"

The "Gogona" is a type of jaw harp, a vibrating reed instrument that is used primarily in the traditional Bihu music in Assam by the women folk. It is made of a piece of bamboo/horn that has a bifurcation on one end.

Some of the popular yester year artists like Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Bishnuprasad Rabha, Parvati Prasad Baruva, Bhupen Hazarika, Nirmalendu Choudhury &Utpalendu Choudhury, Pratima Barua Pandey, LuitKonwar Rudra Baruah, Parvati Prasad Baruva, Jayanta Hazarika, Khagen Mahanta and Beauty Sarma Baruah has laid the foundation of the Assamese music industry with a confluence of indigenous folk music. Among the new generation, singers like Zubeen Garg, Angaraag Mahanta, Kalpana Patowary, Joi Barua, JitulSonowal and Manoj Borah are well known.

Different types of Traditional Pitha and Laru's

The traditional Assamese Breakfast comprises of "Jolpaan" and "Pithas". Some types of "Jolpaan" are Bora Saul (a variety of sticky rice), Komal Saul, Xandoh, Chira, Muri, Akhoi, Sunga Saul etc. eaten in combination with hot milk, curd, jaggery, yogurt or seasonal ripe fruits.

Pitha's and Laru's or Ladoo's are prepared especially during the time of Bihu from rice flour, grated coconut, sugar, jaggery etc. Some Pitha's are Til Pitha, Ghila Pitha, Xutuli Pitha, Sunga Pitha, Bhapotdiya Pitha, Lakhimi Pitha, Tora Pitha, Tekeli Pitha, Deksi Pitha, Muthiya Pitha, Kholasapori Pitha, etc. Laru's include sweet balls made from coconut called the "Laskara" or the "Tilor Laru" made from roasted sesame Seeds.

The Assamese Thali comprises of plain steamed rice, a lentil preparation or "Daal", a mixed vegetable often called a "Labra", a variety of "pitika's" or mashed potatoes, brinjal, tomatoes etc, a dry vegetable preparation made with small potatoes or "Soru Aloo", Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Banana flower, a leafy vegetable preparation made with Lai Xaak, Fiddle Head Ferns or Dhekiya Xaak, Kosu Xaak or Colocassia leaves etc. 

Accompaniments include fermented bamboo shoot pickle or Khorisa, Kahudi/ Pantitenga and Kharoli which is fermented mustard paste, Butor Guri or Whole Black Chana Powder, Tilor Sesame Chutney, Lentil Chutney etc. The cuisine is characterized by very little use of spices, little cooking over fire and strong flavors mainly due to the use of locally available exotic fruits and vegetables that are either fresh, dried or fermented. Fish is widely used in the forms of Curry, Fry, Mash and Maas Pura cooked over fire. Meat includes Mutton, Chicken, Duck, Pigeon and Pork amongst a few communities.

A Quintessential Assamese Thali or Platter

A traditional Assamese meal begins with a "khar", a class of dishes named after the main ingredient, and ends with a "tenga", a sour dish. The food is usually served in bell metal utensils which are believed to be good for health and boosting up immunity. The most common dessert would be a rice pudding called "Payash". "Poitabhat" is a favourite dish in Assam during the summer season. Cooked rice is soaked overnight and left to ferment. It is served with mustard oil, onion, chili, pickles, pitika etc.

An Assamese meal is generally concluded with the chewing of "Tamul Paan" which is basically pieces of Betel nut eaten in combination with Betel leaf, edible limestone and tobacco.