History and Geography
The word 'Assam' as interpreted by some scholars is derived from the Sanskrit word
Asoma meaning peerless or unparalleled. But the widely accepted
opinion of the academic circles today is that the term has come from the original
name of the Ahoms, who ruled the land for about six hundred years
prior to its annexation by the British. The races like Austric, Mongolian, Dravidian
and Aryan that came to this land long-long ago have contributed to its composite
culture. Thus, Assam has a rich legacy of culture and civilization.
Assam was known as Pragjyotisha or the place of eastern astronomy during the epic
period and later named as Kamrupa. The earliest epigraphic reference to the kingdom
of Kamrupa is found in the Allahabad pillar inscription of king Samudragupta. Kamrupa
is mentioned as a Pratyanta or frontier state outside the Gupta
empire but with friendly and subordinate relation to it Hiuen Sang, the Chinese
scholar pilgrim who visited Kamrupa in about 743 A.D.
on an invitation of its monarch, Kumar Bhaskar Varman, left a record of the kingdom
he called Kamolupa. Kamrupa also figured in the writings of the Arabian historian
Alberuni in the eleventh century. Thus, from the epic period down to the twelfth
century A.D., the eastern frontier kingdom
was known as Pragjyotisha and Kamrupa and kings called themselves 'Lords of Pragjyotisha'.
Agriculture
Assam is an agricultural State. Agriculture occupies an important place in the economy
of the State. The principal food crop is rice. The cash crops are jute, tea, cotton,
oilseeds, sugarcane, potato, etc. Noteworthy horticulture items are orange, banana,
pineapple, arecanut, coconut, guava, mango, jackfruit and citrus fruits. The State
has an estimated 39.44 lakh hectares gross cropped area, of which net area sown
is about 27.01 lakh hectares.
Industry
Of agriculture-based industries, tea occupies an important place. There are six
industrial growth Centres in the State. A
CIPET has been established at Amingaon near Guwahati. Assam has always
enjoyed the highest reputation for her arts and crafts associated with her cottage
industries. Cottage industries include handloom, sericulture, cane and bamboo articles,
carpentry, brass and bell-metal crafts. Assam produces varieties of silk, Endi,
Muga, Tassar, etc. Muga silk
is produced only in Assam in the world.
Irrigation and Power
The major power stations are Chandrapur Thermal Project, Namrup Thermal Project
and a few Mobile Gas Turbine Units along with a mini hydro-electric project. Revitalising
the Thermal Power Station of Bongaigaon and completing the Karbi-Langpi Project
will boost the power supply in the State. Approval has been received for Tipaimukh
Dam Project.
FESTIVALS
Assam has an exclusive range of colourful festivals. Bihu is the
chief festival celebrated on the three occasions. Rongali Bihu
or Bohag Bihu marks the advent of the cropping season and it also
ushers in the Assamese New Year. Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is the
harvest festival and Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu
coming in autumn is a simple affair.
Religion accounts for a large variety of festivals. Vaishnavites
observe birth and death anniversaries of prominent Vaishnava saints
through day-long singing of hymns and staging of Bhaonas (theatrical
performances in traditional style). Ambubachi in Kamakhya shrine,
Sivaratri Mela at Umananda and other places near Siva temples,
Durga Puja, Diwali, Dol-Jatra,
Id, Christmas, Ashokastami Mela, Rash Mela,
Parasuram Mela are other religious festivals.
TOURISM
Important places of tourism in and around Guwahati are Kamakhya temple, Umananda
(Peacock Island), Navagraha (temple of nine planets), Basistha Ashram, Dolgobinda,
Gandhi Mandap, State Zoo, State Museum, Sukreswar temple, Gita Mandir, Madan Kamdev
temple, a magnificent archaeological place of interest, and Saraighat bridge.
Other places of tourist interest in the State are: Kaziranga National Park (famous
for one horned rhino), Manas Tiger Project, Pobi-tora and Orang (wildlife sanctuaries),
Sibsagar (Shiv Temple-Rangghar-Karengghar), Tezpur (Bhairavi temple and scenic beauty),
Bhalukpung (Angling), Haflong (health resort with Jatinga hills), Majuli (largest
river island in the world), Chandubi lake (picnic spot), Hajo (meeting point of
Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam), Batadrava (birth place of great Vaishnava saint Sankaradeva)
and Sualkuchi (famous for silk industry).
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