Culture of Bhuragaon

Bhuragaon is a town located in the Morigaon district of Assam, India. The culture of the town is deeply rooted in the Assamese culture and traditions, which have been passed down through generations.

Food

Cuisine

Main article: Assamese cuisine

A spread representing Assamese cuisine. It shows sauteed greens, khar, fish, pork, pitika and the kaji lemon wedge, in traditional bell metal utensils. There is no sweet dessert and the meal ends with betel nut chewing.

Bhuragaon have a rich culinary tradition and a diverse food culture, shaped by the geography, climate, and cultural influences of the region. The people of Bhuragaon are predominantly engaged in agriculture, and the local produce wheat, rice etc.

Assamese cuisine stands out for its minimal use of spices and limited cooking over fire, relying instead on the unique flavors of endemic fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients that are either fresh, dried, or fermented. The cuisine features a significant emphasis on fish, as well as popular bird varieties such as duck, pigeon, and squab, often paired with a primary vegetable or ingredient. Mustard oil, with its pungent taste, is the preferred cooking oil in this cuisine.

A typical Assamese meal starts with a khar dish, named after its main ingredient. Another popular dish is the sour tenga. Traditionally, khar and tenga are not consumed in the same meal, although this practice has changed in recent times. The food is often served in bell metal utensils, crafted by the indigenous Mariya community. A meal is usually concluded with tamul (betel nut, raw or fermented) and paan.

Jolpan

Main article: Assamese Jolpan

Jolpan (snacks) in Assamese are often consideredbreakfast foods, although they are not always served as breakfast in Assamese cuisine. They are eaten as light meals between main meals and widely served during Bihu, weddings, Assamese shraadhs or any other kind of special occasions and gatherings. Some types of jolpan are Bora saul (varieties 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. These are probably some of the earliest forms of "cereals". Assamese people have been eating them mainly as breakfast for many centuries.

Pitha

Main article: Pitha

Till Pitha

Pitha is a type of traditional sweet or savory snack or dessert that originated in the eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha. Pithas are usually made from rice flour or wheat flour and stuffed with sweet or savory fillings such as coconut, jaggery, sesame, lentils, or vegetables. Some pithas are steamed, while others are deep-fried or baked.

Here are some examples of pithas:

• Til Pitha (তিল পিঠা) : Til Pitha is a sweet cake made of sesame seeds and jaggery, and is usually served during the winter season.
• Ghila Pitha (ঘিলা পিঠা) : Ghila Pitha is a type of pancake made of rice flour, jaggery, and coconut. It is usually steamed and served with tea.
• Narikol Pitha (নাৰিকলৰ পিঠা) : Narikol Pitha is a coconut-based cake that is popular in Assam. It is made of rice flour, grated coconut, and jaggery, and is usually steamed or fried.
• Tekeli Pitha (টেকেলি পিঠা) : Tekeli Pitha is a steamed cake made of rice flour, coconut, and jaggery. It is usually served with a hot cup of tea.
• Sunga Pitha (চুঙা পিঠা) : Sunga Pitha is a type of cylindrical cake that is made of rice flour, jaggery, and coconut. It is usually wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.
• Dhup Pitha (ধূপ পিঠা) – (Also known as Bhapa Pitha) : It is a steamed rice cake made out of freshly ground rice flour. The filling is composed of coconut, and molasses or brown sugar . Molasses can be substituted with brown sugar syrup or jaggery.
• Kachi Pitha (কাঁচি পিঠা) : a pan baked pancake made from bora saul and filled with sesame seeds, ground coconut, dried orange rind, and jaggery. The sickle is known as " Kachi" in Assamese and hence the name.
• Uhuwa Pitha (উহোৱা পিঠা) : Rice flour of Xaali Saul and Bora Saul is mixed with jaggery or salt and water and churned thoroughly. The paste is rolled into small balls and flattened and then boiled in water. It is served with tea and also can be eaten with milk.
• Anguli Pitha (আঙুলি পিঠা) : In Assamese language, ‘anguli’ means finger while ‘pitha’ is a type of rice cake. ‘Anguli Pitha’ has got its name from the fact that the pithas are shaped like fingers.
• Tel Pitha (তেল পিঠা)  : Tel Pitha also known as Handesh or Guror Handesh. It is a sweet and puffy deep-fried Pitha which also be eaten as a snack. It is a deep-fried molasses and rice flour cake.
• Ketli Pitha (কেটলি পিঠা) : The method of preparation, as well as the substance, is as same as tekeli pitha, but a kettle is used here instead of the earthenware. That is the reason it is called Ketli pitha (Ketli in Assamese means kettle). Here the kettle-cork is kept upside down on the kettle and the substance is put on it. It usually takes less time to be baked than tekeli pitha takes.

Laru

Larus are sweet balls that are associated with traditional Assamese food. Laskara, narikolor laru, tilor laru are often seen in Assamese cuisine. It is made from various ingredients, such as coconut, sesame seeds, peanuts, or jaggery, and is often rolled into small balls. Laru is typically consumed as a dessert or snack and is especially popular during festivals and other special occasions.

Tea

Tea (Saah in Assamese) is an indispensable part of Assamese cuisine. It is served in form of Black tea, Milk tea, Herbal Tea, Spiced tea, Green Tea, Lemon tea (adding lemon juice to black tea), etc. Most of the Assamese people like to drink laal saah(red tea).

Festivals

The people of Bhuragaon celebrate several festivals throughout the year, some of which are mentioned below.

Bihu

Main article: Bihu

A group of Bihu dancers.

Youth wearing Assamese traditional costumes

One of the most significant cultural events in Bhuragaon is the Bihu festival, which is celebrated three times a year – Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu, and Magh Bihu. These festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and are marked by traditional dance forms such as the Bihu dance.

Durga Puja

Main article: Durga Puja

Devi Durga killing Mahishasura with her trident riding her vahana lion. Lakshmi and Ganesha flank the left while Saraswati and Kartikeya flank on the right.

Durga Puja is a major festival celebrated in Bhuragaon in the month of October. It is a 10-day festival that marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show, with people dressed in new clothes and visiting pandals (temporary structures) to offer prayers to the goddess.

Baisagu

Main article: Bwisagu

Bwisagu is a very popular seasonal festival of the Bodo of Assam. Bwisagu means the start of the new year. Bwisagu is a Boro word which originated from the word "Bwisa" which means year or age, and "Agu" that means New Year.

Jonbeel Mela

Main article: Jonbeel Mela

Jonbeel Mela is a three-day annual indigenous Tiwa Community fair held the weekend of Magh Bihu at a historic place known as Dayang Belguri at Joonbeel. It is 3 km from Jagiroad in Morigaon district of Assam and 32 km from Guwahati. The National Highway connecting the mela is NH 37. The Joonbeel (Joon and Beel are Assamese terms for the Moon and a wetland respectively) is so-called because a large natural water body is shaped like a crescent moon.

Music

Main article: Music of Assam

The music of Assam is a vibrant and diverse form of music that reflects the state's rich cultural heritage and traditions. The music of Assam can be broadly classified into three categories: folk music, classical music, and modern music.

Folk music in Assam includes Bihu, Borgeet, Tokari Geet, Ojapali, and Zikir, among others. Bihu is the most popular and widely known form of folk music in Assam, with its energetic rhythms and colorful dance performances. Borgeet is a devotional form of music that originated in the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam. Tokari Geet is a form of folk music that involves the use of a single-stringed instrument called the tokari. Ojapali and Zikir are spiritual and religious forms of music that are often performed during festivals and religious events.

Classical folk music in Assam is mainly represented by the Sattriya music, which is a form of devotional music that originated in the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam. Sattriya music is accompanied by the use of various musical instruments such as khol, taal, flute, and cymbals.

Some of the famous Folk Music of Assam is as follows;

• Bihu Geet : At the heart of Assamese culture lies the festival of Bihu, and the Bihugeet are an integral part of it. These songs capture the essence of the vibrant carnival of life that Bihu represents. The youth of the community perform these songs with lively hand movements, brisk steps, and rhythmic hip swaying.
• Kampuriya Lokogeet : Kamrupiya Lokageet is a widely popular folk music genre in Assam, primarily sung in lower Assam. It originated during the reign of the Kamrupa Kingdom and is based on a variety of human emotions, often reflecting the experiences of common people. This style of music is celebrated for its rich musical traditions and distinctive style.
• Goalpuriya Lokogeet : Goalporiya Lokgeet is a type of folk music originating from the Goalpara district of Assam. It comprises mainly of lyrical songs that often revolve around the theme of love.
• Tokari Geet : Tokari Geet is a form of folk music from Assam that draws inspiration from various Indian mythological tales and societal experiences. The music is performed with the accompaniment of a Tokari, a traditional musical instrument consisting of a single string played with fingers, cymbals, and a flute. Typically, male folk artists lead the singing of these songs with a designated leader.
• Aainam : Aainam is a form of devotional folk music in the state of Assam that is traditionally sung by women. The music is often associated with themes of illness and death and is typically performed when a family member is suffering from a serious ailment, particularly smallpox. Women sing the Aainam while clapping their hands in praise of the Goddess. This traditional music is still commonly practiced in the lower Assam region.
• Bianam : Bianaam is a well-known genre of folk music in Assam that is prevalent in both Upper and Lower Assam. These lively songs are typically sung during weddings to entertain the bride and groom. Bianaam songs often recount the epic tales of King Baana and his daughter Usha, who married Anniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Women in the community are particularly known for their skill in singing these marriage songs.
• Dihanaam : Dihanaam is a communal prayer that honors the Assamese saint Sankardev and is primarily sung by women in Assam. The music is accompanied by a variety of traditional instruments, including the Negera, taal, khol, and hand-clapping.
• Ojapali : Ojapali is an ancient form of folk music and dance that has long been celebrated in Assam. This traditional art form is typically performed in groups and is commonly featured during religious festivals and other joyous occasions. The lyrics of Ojapali draw inspiration from the Padma Purana, a revered Hindu religious text.

Apart from the above-mentioned, there are several other types namely, Nawariageets, Jhumur, Bongeet, Dihanaam, Jikir and Zari, Hiranaam, Nichukoni geet, Gorokhiya Naam, Deori Mosaia, Holi Geet, Nao Khelor geet, Dehbichar Geet, Siyaan Geet, etc.

Overall, the music of Assam is a diverse and vibrant form of music that reflects the state's rich cultural heritage and traditions.

Traditional crafts

See also: Assam silk and Textiles and dresses of Assam

Mekhela, the traditional attire of women in Assam.
Pictured, one of the most exclusive variants, Muga Mekhela.

Assam has maintained a rich tradition of various traditional crafts for more than two thousand years. Presently, Cane and bamboo craft, bell metal and brass craft, silk and cotton weaving, toy and mask making, pottery and terracotta work, wood craft, jewellery making, musical instruments making, etc. are remained as major traditions. Historically, Assam also excelled in making boats, traditional guns and gunpowder, colours and paints, articles of lac, traditional building materials, utilities from iron, etc.

Language

The local language of Bhuragaon is Assamese, but Bengali, Hindi and English are also widely spoken. The town has several educational institutions, including schools and colleges, which have played a significant role in promoting education and literacy in the region.

The diversity of languages spoken in Bhuragaon reflects the cultural and linguistic richness of the region.

References

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📰 Article(s) of the same category(ies)

• Assam Sahitya Sabha
• Hatbor Kendriya Natya Samaj
• State symbols of Assam (India)
• Folk music of Assam
• Dhopkhel
• Khong Lanmi
• Bihu Dance

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