ASSAM
Assam the gateway of Northeast India is synonymous with unspoiled natural beauty, teeming wildlife immaculate tea gardens and warm and beautiful people. It comprises of three main geographical areas: The Brahmaputra Valley, The Barak Valley and The North Cachar Hills.
Must Visits
Kaziranga National Park is the name to exemplify the most popular conservation efforts to save the endangered species like one-horned rhinoceros in India. Other species that call it home are tigers, buffaloes, deers and a large variety of birds
Majuli
Majuli is a lush green environment-friendly, a pristine and pollution-free freshwater island in the river Brahmaputra, just 20 km from the Jorhat city. Majuli means 'the land between two parallel rivers' and as a matter of fact, this island was formed by the confluence of the Brahmaputra and its anabranches
Nameri
Nameri National Park is in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in the Sonitpur District of Assam and shares its boundaries with the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh. River rafting and national park trek are two of the major highlights while visiting here.
Kamakhya Temple
This sacred temple in the core of the capital city of Assam holds more than it meets the eye of the passerby. The Kamakhya Temple had been built in worship to Goddess Kamakhya or Sati, who was one of the various manifestations of Goddess Durga or Goddess Shakti.
Festivals
The legacy and rich culture of Assam is reflected through its various celebrations and festivities. The many festivals celebrated here are the symbol of unity of all the diversified groups of people living in this beautiful state of India. The various tribes who consider Assam their home, pay tribute to their traditions and customs in their own one of a kind and excellent way.
Bihu
Bihu is a set of three important Assamese festivals in the Indian state of Assam—Rongali or Bohag Bihu observed in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January. The Rongali Bihu is the most important of the three, celebrating the spring festival.
Assam Tea Festival
The grand tea festival is held every year in the winter season between November and January. The winter season yields huge cultivation of tea, and so it is the best time for the tourists to come and see the state bloom to its beauty. The festival is also known as the Jorhat Tea Festival as it is celebrated in the Jorhat district
Ambubashi Mela
The Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu mela held at Kamakhya Temple during the month of June in Guwahati. This mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival since it is closely associated with the Tantric Shakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India. It is believed that the presiding goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch.
Bagurumba
Bagurumba is a folk dance of the indigenous Bodo tribe in Assam and Northeast India. It is a traditional dance that is traditionally inherent to one generation to another generation. The Bodo women perform the Bagurumba dance with their colorful dokhna, jwmgra and aronai. The music has many elements of nature involved like the dance of plants, the dance of animals, birds, butterfly dance, the wave of a flowing river, wind etc which makes it even more relaxing.
Ali Aye Ligang
Ali-Aye-Ligang is a spring festival associated with agriculture, especially with the beginning of the Ahu paddy cultivation. It is celebrated on the first Wednesday of the Phagin month which starts from mid - February by the Mising, an indigenous tribe of Assam, India. The festival marks the onset of sowing seeds.
Cuisines
Assamese cuisine is characterized by very little use of spices, little cooking over fire and strong flavors due mainly to the use of exotic fruits and vegetables that are either fresh, dried or fermented. Fish is widely used, and birds like duck, squab etc. are very popular, which are often paired with a main vegetable or ingredient. Preparations are rarely elaborate. The preferred oil for cooking is the pungent mustard oil.
Lai Xaak Gahori (Non-Vegetarian)
One of the most consumed pork dishes of Assam. Pork is either boiled or made curry with the hero ingredient i.e Lai Xaak (Mustard greens)
Aloo Pitika (Vegetarian)
Aloo Pitika is the signature dish of Assam and it's made with mashed potatoes, chopped onions, green chillies, cilantro and raw mustard oil
Kumura Haah (Non - Vegetarian)
The most famous duck curry of Assam. Prepared with kumura (Ash gourd) and potatoes
Dhekia Xaak (Vegetarian)
Dhekia is an edible fern, eaten as a cooked vegetable in Assam. It is mostly stir-fried with onions and potatoes
Paro Curry (Non - Vegetarian)
Paro or pigeon curry is generally eaten during the festive seasons. Be it in the time of Magh bihu or Durga puja
Khaar (Vegetarian)
Khar is basically an alkaline extract from the ashes of burnt dried banana peels and have dal, papaya and cucumber variations
Dessets
Like its main course, assamese desserts are light and do not contain butter or clarified butter which makes it very easy to eat after a heavy meal.
Narikol Laaru (Sweet)
Narikol is coconut and laaru is laddu in Assamese. This is a sweet coconut laddu
Til Pitha (Sweet)
This is a rice cake made with the outer layer of molded sticky rice with roasted black sesame seeds as a filling.
Payokh (Sweet)
Bora Chaulor Payok or sticky rice pudding is indigenous to the people Assam, prepared with milk and sugar or jaggery
Sunga Pitha (Sweet)
Sunga Pitha is a rice cake baked inside whole bamboo pieces in bonfire.
Ghila Pitha (Savoury)
Ghila Pitha is a fried rice cake. It is a popular Assamese snack prepared during major festive occasions
Kordoi Khurma (Savoury)
Shaped in the form of star fruit, this is generally eaten with tea.
