The Assam Pavilion displays traditional Assamese homes and the lifestyle of people living in rural areas through dioramas. Masks have always been important in Assamese culture, and these masks are used to depict stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Krishna’s childhood, including the slaying of Putana. In addition, the pavilion also displays the seventeen cultures of Assam. The Gurukul system and the guru-shishya tradition are also on display.
Paintings depicting Assam’s famous Kamakhya temple to Krishna’s leelas are a major attraction for visitors.
Coordinator of the Assam Pavilion exhibition, Himansu Sharma, a winner of the National Youth Award of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Publicity Officer (Assam) Jina Rajkumari said that artists are providing information to tourists about Assam’s culture through stalls and a stage.
Paintings depict Assam’s famous Kaziranga National Park. Hand-made bamboo products are also on display at the Assam Pavilion. The importance of bamboo in Assamese life and how it is used in daily life are also highlighted.
Traditional cuisine, including the famous pitha, which is made from soaked rice, is also being prepared and served to tourists at the stall. Tourists are also enjoying Assam’s famous tea, which is made with only milk and tea leaves.
Tourists are also eagerly watching the cuisine of Bukakhat, a famous place in Assam.
The Assam Pavilion also has a stall selling handmade textiles, including makhla chadar, which women wear like sarees, and necklaces made from red sandalwood seeds. Tourists are also buying Assam’s gamcha, which is also known as parna or towel in Haryana.
In addition, laptop bags, ladies’ purses, and disposable plates made from water hyacinth, and cloth made from banana trees are also attracting the attention of visitors to the pavilion.
Decoration items made from terracotta/clay, which once graced the palaces of kings and queens, are also on display at the stall.
Tourists from all over the country are coming to see the International Gita Mahotsav from far and wide.
Numberdar Suresh Pal, who came from Mirzapur village in Ambala district, said that the International Gita Mahotsav is a unique festival in itself and that people get detailed information about their ancient culture by coming here. He also said that he felt spiritual peace in his mind.
Sardar Surinder Singh, who came from Baroli village, said that he was aware of the ancient culture of Punjab and Haryana, but he got a chance to see the culture and folk art of Assam at the Assam Pavilion at the International Gita Mahotsav.
Similarly, Sardar Anup Singh of Andheri village said that the International Gita Mahotsav is giving people, especially the younger generation, an opportunity to learn about Assam’s culture along with Haryanavi culture. He said that children and youngsters should come to this festival and learn about their culture as well as Assam’s culture. This will show how India is a country of unity in diversity.
