Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Jonbeel Mela

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Date(s)
  
January or February

Inaugurated
  
15th century AD

Frequency
  
Annual

Jonbeel Mela

Location(s)
  
Dayang Belguri Morigaon, Assam

Jonbeel Mela (pron:ˈʤɒnˌbi:l ˈmeɪlə) (Assamese: জোনবিল মেলা) is a three-day Tiwa community fair held the weekend of Magh Bihu at a historic place known as Dayang Belguri at Joonbeel. It is 5 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.

Contents

History

The mela is said to be begun not later than 15th century AD. It was first organized ago by the Tiwa (Lalung) and Ahom kings to discuss the prevailing political situations.

Barter system

During the occasion a huge bazaar is held. A few days before the mela starts, communities and tribes like Tiwa, Karbi, Khasi, and Jayantia of the northeast come down from the hills with products and interchange their merchandise with the local people in a 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 Puja (fire worship) is performed for the well-being of the mankind The mela starts with community fishing in the Joonbeel wetland.

The theme of the mela is harmony and brotherhood among the tribes and communities scattered in the Northeast India. The Gobha King along with his courtiers visits the mela and collects taxes from his subjects. People perform their traditional dance and music, making the atmosphere one of joy and fun.

Royal allowance

On January 17, 2009 the Government of Assam announced an "Annual Royal Allowance" for the 19 customary kings from communities under the Gobha Kingdom that includes parts of three districts of present Assam: Morigaon, Nagaon and Kamrup. The 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.

  • Gobha 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 Joonbeel Mela, which has become an important tourist destination."
  • Ahom King Susenfa Pratap Singha had 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 Chowdhury's Sahitya Akademy Award-winning novel Deo Langkhui.

    References

    Jonbeel Mela Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA