JONBEEL MELA:- Jonbeel Melais one of the most attractive festivals of Assam. Tiwa people celebrate several occasions and festivals, Jon Bil Mela is one of them. Jonbeel Mela is held every year during the winter season at a historic place known as Dayang Belguri at Jonbeel. Jonbeel is like the crescent moon that is why the mela on the side of the bill is named as Jonbeel. Jon and Beel are Assamese termsfor the Moon and a wetland respectively. It is a 3-day-long community fair held at the weekend of Magh Bihu. Before the mela takes place, an Agni Puja or fire worship is performed for the well-being of the mankind. The mela starts with community fishing in the Jonbeel wetland. People from the Tiwa community catching fish during the “Community Fishing”. The theme of the mela is harmony and goodwill among the various tribes andcommunities scattered in the Northeast India. This is traditionally the Gobha Haat of barter exchange. On the Jonbeel Mela, a huge market or bazaar is held where the people of different tribes interchange their merchandise with the local people in barter system. During the mela,the king of the Tiwa tribes popularly known as Govaraja along with his courtiers visits the mela and collects taxes from his subjects. During this festival people from various tribes perform their traditional dance and music and makes the whole atmosphere joyful...!!!(COPIED- ADMIN-Jitul Raj)
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 12:19:26 +0000