Jonbeel Mela
Encyclopedia
Jonbeel Mela is a 3-day-long community fair held at the weekend of Magh Bihu at a historic place known as Dayang Belguri at Jonbeel. It is 5 km from Jagiroad
in Marigaon
district of Assam and 32 km from Guwahati
. The National Highway connecting the mela is NH 37
. The Jonbeel (Jon 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
.
, and Jayantia of the Northeast come downwards from the hills with various kinds of products and interchange their merchandise with the local people in barter system It is said to be a Hi-Tech age barter system and perhaps the only fair in India where barter system is still alive.
(fire worship
) is performed for the well-being of the mankind The mela starts with community fishing in the Jonbeel wetland. The theme of the mela is harmony and brotherhood among the various tribes and communities scattered in the Northeast India. During the mela the Gova King along with his courtiers visits the mela and collects taxes from his subjects People perform their traditional dance and music making the whole atmosphere full of joy and fun
has announced an “Annual Royal Allowance” for the 19 customary kings from different communities under the Gova Kingdom that includes parts of three district of present Assam namely Marigaon
, Nagaon
and Kamrup
. Education Minister of Assam Gautam Bora, distributing the bank cheques among the kings, said that the monetary assistance will be something between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 10,000 depending on the population count under them.
's sahitya akademy award winning novel Deo Langkhui
.
Jagiroad
Jagiroad is a census town in Marigaon district in the Indian state of Assam.It is famous for papermill and dry fish market.-Demographics: India census, Jagiroad had a population of 17,254. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Jagiroad has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher...
in Marigaon
Marigaon
Marigaon is a town of town area committee and the district headquarter of Marigaon district in the Indian state of Assam.-Demographics: India census, Marigaon had a population of 20,807. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Marigaon has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher...
district of Assam and 32 km from Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
. The National Highway connecting the mela is NH 37
National Highway 37 (India)
National Highway 37 is a National Highway in India that runs across Assam state in India. The Total length of NH 37 is .- Route :National Highway 37 branches off from NH 31 as NH 31B, crosses the Brahmaputra River at Goalpara and traverses the entire width of Assam state along the South of the River...
. The Jonbeel (Jon and Beel
Beel
A beel or a bheel is a term for a pond with static water , in the Ganges - Brahmaputra flood plains of the Eastern Indian states of West Bengal, and Assam and in the country of Bangladesh...
are Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
terms for the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and a wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
respectively) is so called because a large natural water body is shaped like a crescent moon
Lunar phase
A lunar phase or phase of the moon is the appearance of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen by an observer, usually on Earth. The lunar phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun...
.
History
The mela is said to be begun not later than 15th Century AD. It was first organized several centuries ago by the Ahom kings to discuss the prevailing political situations.Barter system
During the occasion a huge bazaar is held. Few days before the mela starts, communities and tribes like like Karbi, Khasi, TiwaTiwa (Lalung)
Tiwa is a tribal group inhabiting the States of Assam and Meghalaya in Northeast India. They are recognized as a Scheduled tribe within the State of Assam...
, and Jayantia of the Northeast come downwards from the hills with various kinds of products and interchange their merchandise with the local people in barter system It is said to be a Hi-Tech age barter system and perhaps the only fair in India where barter system is still alive.
Significance
Before the mela takes place, an Agni PujaAgni
Agni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods...
(fire worship
Fire worship
Worship or deification of fire is known from various religions. Fire has been an important part of human culture since the Lower Paleolithic...
) is performed for the well-being of the mankind The mela starts with community fishing in the Jonbeel wetland. The theme of the mela is harmony and brotherhood among the various tribes and communities scattered in the Northeast India. During the mela the Gova King along with his courtiers visits the mela and collects taxes from his subjects People perform their traditional dance and music making the whole atmosphere full of joy and fun
Royal allowance
On January 17, 2009 the Government of AssamGovernment of Assam
The Government of Assam is the provincial governing authority of the state of Assam in the Republic of India.It consists of the Governor as the head of the state, who is nominated by the Government of India. The head of government is the Chief Minister, who is the leader of the group that commands...
has announced an “Annual Royal Allowance” for the 19 customary kings from different communities under the Gova Kingdom that includes parts of three district of present Assam namely Marigaon
Marigaon
Marigaon is a town of town area committee and the district headquarter of Marigaon district in the Indian state of Assam.-Demographics: India census, Marigaon had a population of 20,807. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Marigaon has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher...
, Nagaon
Nagaon
Nagaon , is a medium sized city and a municipal board in Nagaon district in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated east of Guwahati. An older spelling of the name is Nowgong.It is one of the fastest growing cities of the northeast.-History:...
and Kamrup
Kamrup
Kamrup district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India, named after Kamarupa, a name by which Assam was previously known in ancient times. The district, however, is now a small western part of Assam, with a distinctive native Kamrupi culture and dialect . The distinctive...
. Education Minister of Assam Gautam Bora, distributing the bank cheques among the kings, said that the monetary assistance will be something between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 10,000 depending on the population count under them.
Reactions
Expressing their great delight at the initiative taken by the Government the kings welcomed the move.- Gova King Deep Sing said, “It is a welcome move by the government of Assam. We have been demanding this for a long time as the economic condition of all these customary kings is going down. If we do not receive any assistance from the government, it would be difficult to maintain even the tradition of hosting the annual Jonbeel Mela, which has become an important tourist destination."
- Ahom King Susenfa Pratap Singha said, "The Mela was initiated by our predecessors to maintain cordial relations among all communities. The government assistance would help to fulfil the predecessors' dreams.”
In fiction
There is an elaborate references of the mela in Rita ChowdhuryRita Chowdhury
Dr. Rita Chowdhury is an established poet, novelist and also Sahitya Akademi Award recipient in the world of Assamese literature. She is presently working as a Senior Lecturer in Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam in Political Science Department...
's sahitya akademy award winning novel Deo Langkhui
Deo Langkhui
Deo Langkhui is an Assamese novel written by Dr Rita Chowdhury. The book unveils some important aspects of then contemporary Tiwa society and also a series of their customs and traditions. The novel is based on historical evidence of then Tiwa kingdom, but the main protagonist is the royal lady...
.